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THE
LADY FROM NOWHERE
A DETECTIVE STORY
BY
FERGUSI^ SUME
AUTHOR OP "THE MYSTSRY OF A HANSOM CAB," ETC.
BRENT ANO'S
31 UNION SQUARE, NEW YORK
1900
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CONTENTS
cHAirm
I. Trb Tragedy of ths Stkakob Room
II. The Death-caed ...
III. A Woman without a Past
IV. The Five Landladies
V« A Feieno in Need
VL The Ceimb of Kiekstonb Hall ...
VII. Comments on the Crime
VIII. Mr. Prain, Solicitor
DC KiRKSTONE Hall
X. Strange Behaviour
XL The Mad Gaedener ...
xn. The Diamond Necklace ...
xnL Arthur Ferris
XIV. A Surprising Discovery ...
XV. The Revelation of Mr. Prain
XVL Miss Wedderburn ...
XVIL An Explanation
XVIII. What Mrs, Presk found
FAGS
• ••
I
*•.
II
...
... 2*
...
35
...
... 45
...
55
...
... 66
...
77
...
... 88
.«•
98
...
... I08
...
119
...
... 130
...
140
...
... 150
*••
161
...
... 171
•••
18a
/X,>
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vl CONTENTS
CHAPTBK fAOE
XIX. Th» Unexpected occurs ... ... ... 193
XX. A Needle in a Haystack ... ... ... 203
XXI. Found at Last ... ... ... ... 213
XXIL A Secret Hoard ... ... ... ... 223
XXIII. The Convict's Defence ... ... ... 232
XXXV. Proof Positive ... ... ... ... 243
XXV. How THE Deed was done ... ... ... 254
XXVL T^B End of it All ... • 268
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THE LADY FROM NOWHERE
CHAPTER I
THE TRAGEDY OF THE STRANGE ROOM
On the night of July 24th, in the year 1896, between
the hours of eleven and twelve, Grangebury, a little-
known suburb of London, was wrapped in slumber,
as became a respectable neighbourhood whose in-
habitants retired regularly shortly after sunset Not
that they had done so on this particular night, for the
unusual excitement of a lecture on Dickens, delivered
in the tiny Town Hall, had kept them from their beds
later than was customary. At a quarter to eleven, a
stream of instructed pleasure-seekers, discussing lec-
ture and lecturer, filled the narrow streets ; but
gradually the crowd diminished until highways and
byways were left deserted, save by watchful police-
men and vagrant cats. The lamps were then extin-
guished by order of an economical municipality, the
few lights still twinkling from the upper windows of
various houses disappeared, and the little town lay
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2 THE LADy FROM NOWHERE
under moon and stars as silent and almost as lonely
as the spell-bound cities in eastern fables.
Every now and then the footsteps of policemen
making their rounds, could be heard echoing along
the streets, and sometimes an official lantern would
be flashed into dark comers to search out possible
burglars or homeless beggars. But no thieves or
vagabonds could be discovered ; for, on the whole,
Grangebury, being a comparatively new suburb, was
free from such criminal pests, and the police force
there, under the command of Mr. Inspector Lackland
had a very easy time. There was nothing on this
night to indicate any ending to this Arcadian Age
of security and innocence ; yet^ shortly after eleven
o'clock a yawning policeman, leaning against a
convenient wall, heard a word cried aloud which
told him of crime and danger. The word was
« Murder I"
''Murder! " repeated the constable, looking up and
down the street
" Murder 1" shrieked the voice again; and then
there came the sound of running feet, cries for help,
and the quick panting of an exhausted creature.
Before the policeman could decide in which direc-
tion to move, a dishevelled woman, screaming and
gesticulating, came at full speed round the corner,
and almost fell into his arms. Her face was pearly
white in the moonlight, her eyes were filled with
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TRAGEDY OF THE STRANGE ROOM 3
terror, and an almost continuous cry issued from
her open mouth without any motion of the lips.
'"'Erel 'ere, wofs this?" said the policeman,
seizing the flying creature by the arm. " Wot d'ye
mean, screeching out murder like a loonatic ? Come
now!"
Trembling violently, the woman grappled with
the policeman, shrieking the while, and evidently
beside herself with terror. Not being gifted with
brains, the officer of the law shook her vigorously to
brighten her intellect ; and she wavered limply in
his grasp like a dummy figure.
" Murder ! '* she whimpered, clawing and clutching
at the man. ''Lordl it's awful! Ugh! Ugh!
I've seen her dead ! "
''Seen '00 dead?" demanded the policeman,
stolidly.
••My lodger! Dead! Strangled! Ugh! Ugh!"
cried the woman, breathlessly, raising her voice higher
at each word. ''A corpse in the Yellow Room!
Paradise Row ! Come and see— come and Oh,
poor soul ! " and she fell to wringing her hands again,
quivering and panting.
" Wait a bit ! " said the jack-in-office, bound by
red-tapeism, "the police station is just roun' th'
comer. Kim up an' see th' Inspector ! "
•• I — I — I am innocent ! " gasped the woman, hang,
jng back. " Neither 'Tilda nor I laid a finger on her."
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4 THE LADY FROM NOWHERE /
" 'Oo said y' did ? " retorted the man, suspiciously ;
and, for his own protection he recited an official
formula, " Wot / say now 'uU be used in hevidence
agin y\ Kim up, I tell y*." And, grasping >er arm,
he hurried her fighting and crying round the near
corner, and into a red-brick building, over, the door
of which was a lamp inscribed " Police Station."
In a stuffy room, rendered almost unbearable by
the heat of the flaring gas, two men were talking
earnestly together, notwithstanding the lateness of
the hour. The one in uniform was a burly, red-faced
martinet known in Grangebury as Inspector Lack-
land. He was too completely hemmed in by red
tapeism to count for much ; but the other in plain
clothes was Absolom Gebb, well known in Scotland
Yard as a capable detective, but not so infallible as
the miracle-monger of fiction. It was Gebb who
brought home the theft of Lady Daleshire's diamonds
to herself; who proved Dr. Mamer to be guilty of
poisoning his wife, in spite of strong evidence to the
contrary ; who solved nine out of every ten criminal
problems submitted to him, and who was the terror
of all evil-doers. This tall, lean man with his clean-
shaven face and black, observant eyes was an enthu-
siast in his profession, and loved to ponder over and
follow out the intricacies of criminal mysteries. At
the present moment he was conversing with Lack-
land about a recent Anarchist conspiracy, and
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TRAGEDY OF THE STRANGE ROOM 5
therefore happened to be In the Grangebury Police
Office when the zealous poh'ceman appeared with his
terrified prisoner. She cried out when she was thrust
into the room, and, confronted by inspector and
detective, covefed her face with her hands.
"Hey! What!** said Lackland, in his rasping
voice. " What's ail this about ? "
" Case of murder, sir," jerked out the policeman,
pushing forward the prisoner. "Paradise Row I
Woman strangled I "
•* Murder ? " cried Gebb, pricking up his ears at the
ominous word.
* Murder!" screeched the woman, and fell into a
chair. Evidently she had received a shock and was
on the vei^e of hysterics, for she began to babble and
weep copiously. Accustomed to deal with this sort
of emotion, Lackland seized a jug of water standing
near his desk, and dashed the contents into her face.
The remedy was efficacious, for with a gasp and a
shiver the woman recovered her self-control and
tongue, also her inherent feminine vanity. "You
brute 1 " she screamed, jumping up wrathfully. " My
best bonnet's spoilt"
" Attention ! " roared the inspector in his sternest
military manner; "none of this nonsense here.
What about this murder in "
" I didn't kill her ! " interrupted the woman, wiping
her face. " Tilda and me knew nothing about it till
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6 THE LADY FROM NOWHERE
we found her strangled when we came back from the
lecture."
''Did you attend the lecture on Dickens in the
Town Hall ? " asked Gebb.
"Yes, I did, sir; both me and 'Tilda, who is my
servant, went."
" What is your name ? " asked the detective, with
professional sharpness.
" Maria Presk."
" Married or single ?*'
"Married once, single now," sighed the woman.
'' I am what you call a widow, sir ; and I let lodgings
in Paradise Row."
" Was this dead woman a lodger of yours ? "
"Miss Ligram, you mean? Yes. Miss Ligram
was in the first floor front"
"And who killed Miss Ligram?" asked Gebb,
looking keenly at Mrs. Presk.
The good lady turned ever paler than before.
"I — I don't know, sir," she stammered, with a
scared look. ''I can take my stand in any court
of "
" Face this way, ma'am ! " interrupted Lackland,
who was indignant at the way in which Gebb was
usurping his authority. " I'm in charge of this office.
I'm the officer to take your evidence. Mr. Gebbl
Discipline!"
"Alright! Go ahead!" replied the detective,
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TRAGEDY OF THE STRANGE ROOM 7
inwardly cursing the too methodical procedure of
his superior, "I don't want to interfere. But," he
added with emphasis, " I think we should go at once
and look at the corpse."
•* All in good time, Mr. Gebb. More haste, less
speed ! " said Lackland, crisply.
"And the more delay, the less chance of getting at
the truth," retorted Gebb.
The fact was that Gebb's sporting instincts were
roused, and he wanted to be off on the trail while it
was yet fresh. Every moment was of importance.
Yet, as he was not in charge of the case, he was
forced to stand idly by and hear the blundering in-
spector putting a lot of irrelevant questions — good for
nothing, but wasting time. However, Gebb managed
to extract some grains of wheat out of a vast quantity
of chaff, and in a roundabout way — thanks to the in-
spector's method of questioning — learned the following
facts, which were sufficient to inform him how matters
stood at present
Miss Ligram was — or rather, had been, since she
no longer existed — a lodger in the house of Mrs.
Presk, No. 13, Paradise Row. She was a quiet,
inoffensive old lady, who gave little trouble, and
who remained by preference in her own room. On
the night of the 24th July, Mrs. Presk and her servant,
Matilda Crane, had attended a lecture delivered in
the Town Hall. The lecture— an amusing one on
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8 THE LADY FROM NOWHERE
Charles Dickens and his works — ^had aflforded them
much pleasure, and they returned at eleven o'clock to
Paradise Row in a state of high spirits. On passing
round to the back entrance they saw that a light was
still burning in Miss Ligram's sitting-room, and,
wondering at the sight — for the lodger usually retired
early — Mrs. Presk, on entering the house, had gone
upstairs to see if anything was wrong. To her horror
she found Miss Ligram dead, with a cord round her
neck. Terrified by the sight, she had called up
Matilda Crane, who, more impressionable and less
hardened, had promptly fainted away. Mrs. Presk,
a woman of energy and resource, had immediately
sought the aid of the police, and now insisted that
Lackland and his subordinates should remove the
corpse and capture the murderer.
** That last is easier said than done," was Gebb's
comment on this demand. '* By this time the assassin
is far enough away. However, there's no time to be
lost in looking at the scene of the crime, as I
suggested"
" Quite so," said Lackland, grufBy. " No time to
waste, ma'am" — ^to Mrs. Presk. " March I Gebb, come
with me and catch the murderer 1 "
This proposition recommending itself to Mrs. Presk,
she left the police-office with inspector and detective,
and led the pair to her house, which was situated
down a side street no great distance away. As the
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TRAGEDY OF THE STRANGE ROOM 9
front door was closed, she conducted the men round
the back way, through the kitchen, and up the stairs
into Miss Ligram*s sitting-room. On the mat in the
passage, Tilda, the servant, lay still insensible, so Mrs.
Presk lifted her in her strong arms and carried her to
the kitchen to be revived as speedily as possible, in
case, as was almost certain, her evidence might be
wanted In the mean time Lackland and Gebb had
entered the room wherein the crime had been com-
mitted, and were amazed at the splendour of the
apartment For colouring and evidence of wealth it
was like a scene out of the Arabian Nights.
The room was of no great size, with a window
looking out on to the street, and two doors, one
leading in from a narrow passage, the other giving
admittance into an inner apartment, evidently a bed-
room. The walls were draped with rich hangings
of satin, yellow as a buttercup in hue, and a tent-like
roof of the same tint and material was drawn in many
folds to a dome-like centre, whence depended by a
brass chain an Arabian lantern studded with knobs of
yellow glass, which, illuminated from within, shone
like pale topaz stones. Tables, chairs, and couches
were framed of gilded cane, with coverlets and quilts
of yellow silk, and the ground of the carpet was
of the same colour, embroidered with bunches of
primrose flowers. Also there were tall narrow mirrors
framed in yellow satin^ clusters of daflbdils in
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lo THE LADY FROM NOWHERE
grotesque Chinese vases of a deep yellow shade, and
numerous candles — all lighted— in candelabra silver
gilt Near the window, from a brass chafing-dish
standing on a tripod of the same metal, curled up a
thin white vapour diffusing a heavy rich perfume, and
everywhere lay nicknacks of gold and silver more or
less costly ; fur mats and rugs dyed yellow, and many
books covered in a homely fashion with yellow paper.
The prevailing colour of the room was a violent
yellow ; and this, with the glare of the candles, the
glitter of the mirrors, the scent of the flowers, and the
strong perfume of the incense, made the heads of the
onlookers reel. Even the matter-of-fact inspector was
impressed by the uncanny magnificence of the place.
"By George, sir!" said he to Gebb, with the in-
stincts of an old soldier, "it's like a Mandalay
Pagoda. If t'was in Burmah, now, shouldn't mind
looting it"
Gebb was rubbing his hands, with sparkling eyes.
" By the sight of it," he said joyfully, " this is
going to be a romantic case. I only hope I'll be
lucky enough to get charge of it Did you furnish
this room, ma'am ? " he asked, turning sharply to Mrs.
Presk, whose pale grey face appeared over the
shoulder of the burly, staring inspector.
"No, I didnV retorted the landlady. "Miss
Ligram furnished it herself, and called it her Yellow
Boudoir."
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CHAPTER II
THE DEATH-CARD
If the appearance of the room was amazing, that of
the dead woman was not less so. The body was
lying loosely in an armchair, with sprawling legs and
arms, like a saw-dust dolL The head lay limply on
the shoulder, and a yellow cord — evidently torn from
a near curtain — ^was bound tightly round the lean
throat The distorted face, the protruding tongue,
the bulging eyes, and discoloured skin, all showed
that the poor creature had been strangled in the most
remorseless manner. Before her was placed a low
cane table, on the yellow coverlet of which a pack of
cards was spread out face downward, but in the lap
of the dead woman lay another card with the face
upward. It was the ace of spades. Mrs. Presk noting
it for the first time gave a screech of mingled horror
and surprise.
"The death-card I •* she gasped, stepping back.
"Lord I how awful!"
**What do you mean by the death-card?" asked
Gebb, sharply.
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12 THE LADY FROM NOWHERE
" Why I " said Mrs. Presk, astonished at the question,
which to her seemed unnecessary, **it's the card in
the pack as stands for death. When you turn up the
ace of spades you know it's time to order your
coffin."
« Rubbish ! " said Gebb. " Humbug 1 " roared the
inspector; and they both shrugged their shoulders
to show their contempt for such superstition.
Mrs. Presk shook her head gloomily. " Talk won't
alter the matter ! " she said, pointing to the card.
"There's the death-token, and there's the corpse;
what do you make of that ? "
" I make this," said Gebb, dryly ; "that the mur-
derer must be a person of imagination."
" He ought to be shot, the blackguard," growled
Lackland, •* play-acting with a corpse. I wonder what
they were fooling with cards for ? Looks like a mad-
man's work to me. What do you say, Gebb ? "
: Gebb said nothing at the moment He was
examining the dead woman, who was arrayed with
unusual splendour quite in keeping with the room, yet
too richly- for the front parlour of a fifth-rate lodging-
house.
Miss Ligram's body was that of an old woman
close upon sixty years of age, with a wrinkled face,
and a profusion of silvery white hair turned back in
the style of Marie Antoinette. It was dressed in an
old-fashioned dinner-dress of white silk, trimmed with
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THE DEATH-CARD 13
valuable lace, and this was designed so as to show the
lean neck and bony arms of the wearer. Anything
more incongruous than that poor clay clothed in such
costly garments can scarcely be imagined. It seemed
to accentuate the grimness of the crime, almost to
elevate a sordid murder to the level of tragedy.
''Did Miss Ligram usually dress like this?** asked
Gebb, turning to Mrs. Presk.
" Every evening ! ** replied the landlady, promptly.
" She must have been eccentric I " was Gebb's com-
ment on this reply.
" Very eccentric, sir. I don't think she was quite
right here.** And the landlady tapped her head
significantly.
"A Crazy Jane?" questioned Lackland.
'* She was and she wasn't,'' answered Mrs. Presk,
enigmatically. ** She wasn't mad enough to be shut
up, but she acted in a queerer way than most people.
Look at this room, and all its lights ; every night it
was the same. She usually dined off a chop and
potatoes, yet she dressed in silk and lace to eat them.
And " Thus far Mrs. Presk with her eyes on
the corpse had proceeded volubly, when suddenly —
still staring at the dead woman — ^she stopped, and her
jaw dropped. Motionless as a stone image she stood
looking ; and then with an ejaculation she ran out of
the room. The detective and the inspector looked at
her vanishing form, looked at the corpse, looked
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14 THE LAD^FROM NOWHERE
at one another^ and failed to understand her
action.
" What the devil does that mean ? " said Gebb, with
surly amazement
'* Only the devil knows/* retorted Lackland, grimly;
" but if that jade is hiding anything of importance the
sooner we get it out of her the better. YouVe a bit
of a lawyer, Gebb, so I'll bring back Mrs. Presk, and
you'll examine her I "
" No ! " said Gebb, detaining his friend ; " let her go
now. I'll get the truth out of her to-morrow."
"By George you will, will you ! " grumbled Lack-
land, annoyed that his advice was not taken ; "and
what if you don't get charge of the case ? "
"I'll grin and bear i^ I suppose!" retorted the
other; "but I'll work my hardest to be given the
handling of this affair, for it strikes me that it will
prove a sight more difficult than either of us guesses.
This room's a rum one, ain't it ? And that pack of
cards aren't there for nothing. Then there is the
dead woman's dress, and the landlady's queer conduct
Oh, you can bet, inspector, there's a jolly lot more in
these things than meets the eye, and I'm the man to
find out what they all mean."
"You can blow your own trumpet, I seel" said
Lackland, dryly.
Gebb laughed, in nowise embarrassed. "My
trumpeter's dead from over-wprk," he replied coolly.
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THE DEATH-CARD 15
" If I don't praise myself no one else will However,
I'll see to-morrow if the big wigs will let me run this
show in my own way. Now you go and look round
the house, Lackland, and leave me here to examine
the room."
"What about the body?" asked the inspector,
dominated by Gebb's strong will
" We'll let it lie here as it is, until the doctor comes.
I told that policeman who brought Mrs. Fresk to the
station to knock up an M.D."
"By George, sir, one would think you were in-
spector here ! " spluttered the indignant Lackland.
"Am I nobody?"
"You're a good fellow — too good to get your
monkey up for nothing. You let me look after this
murder myself. I'll do you a good turn some other
time."
"Well, rillet you have your own way for once.
You're no fool, I will say," muttered Lackland, and
withdrew to look through the house. He knew that
Gebb was very clever, and in his heart was not un«
willing to avail himself of the detective's assistance.
Therefore, he left him to his own devices, and set out
to seek Mrs. Fresk in the kitchen. Having found
her, he made her show him the house, but judiciously
refrained from commenting on her late conduct He
left the elucidation of that to Gebb.
Left to himself, the detective examined the dead
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i6 THE LADY FROM NOWHERE
woman and the room with minute attention to
detail, keeping up a running commentary the while on
his discoveries. He had a habit of talking aloud
when alone, as if to emphasize his opinions, and, while
examining the boudoir, soliloquized with appropriate
actions like a stage-player.
"The furniture is quite in order," he murmured,
his keen eyes roving hither and thither. " Therefore
there can have been no struggle. The murderer was
no intruder, but was expected. A visitor I perhaps
a friend ! He — let me presume the criminal to be a
man — he no doubt entered, and was kindly received
by the deceased. Here is a bottle, and two glasses
with wine in each ; so the two were friendly enough
to drink in company. There is a chair on either side
of this table whereon the cards are laid out The
dead body remains in the one nearest the wall ; so I
expect the visitor sat in the other with his back to the
door. Were they playing cards ? I think not, as in
that case the whole pack would not be laid out in
this fashion. I have it ! " cried Gebb, smiting his open
palm with his fist, "the visitor was telling Miss
Ligram's fortune. He placed the cards in that
position and told her to draw one. She drew the
ace of spades, which yet lies In her lap, and
when face to face with the omen of death he
killed her."
Here the detective paused to consider if he was
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THE DEATH-CARD 17
correct in assuming the assassin to be a man.
Fortune-telling — especially by cards — is usually in-
dulged in by the other sex. But would a woman,
however cruel, have so brutally strangled her unsus-
pecting hostess, and — ^as it may be assumed — friend ?
Gebb examined the chair on which the visitor had
sat, and found traces of tobacco ash.
"Cigarette ash?" he pronounced it after an
examination, "the quality is fine and quantity
small The visitor was a man and he was smoking.
H'ml That is not like a professional fortune-
teller. Such a one would be too desirous of
impressing his dupe to spoil the gravity of the
situation by smoking. The man must have been a
friend, and he probably told the woman's fortune in
this way to throw her off her guard. Let us look
further,"
The chair in which the dead body was lying, stood
some little distance from the hangings of the wall.
These, as Gebb discovered on further examination,
had been draped back with a cord to reveal a small
oil painting ; but the cord — which had a loop at
either end to slip over a brass nail, concealed beneath
the hangings of satin — ^had been deftly removed (not
torn) from its peg, and flung round the victim's neck.
On the floor behind the chair Gebb picked up a half-
burnt cigarette, which had smouldered out With
this in his hand he returned to the centre of the
c
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l8 THE LADY FROM NOWHERE
room and looked once more at the cards. These
attracted him strangely.
" Without doubt the fortune-telling was a trick," he
said aloud. *' The man set out the cards, and while
his victim was selecting one he lighted a cigarette,
and rose to stroll round the room. Not suspecting
any danger — which shows, by the way, that she must
have trusted him — his victim let him pass behind her
chair. While there, he slipped the loops of the cord
off the nail. Then when she turned up the death-
card — a pure coincidence, no doubt — ^he threw the
cord over her head and choked her before the poor
wretch had time to call out for assistance. He then
robbed the body at his leisure, and left the house.
It's as clear as day."
Presuming that the murderer had gone out by the
front door, Gebb left the room and went into the
passage. To his surprise he found that the front
door was locked, but, as the detective noted, not
bolted.
" He must have locked it after he left the house,"
thought Gebb, "and no doubt did so to prevent
intrusion and a too sudden discovery of his crime.
I expect he threw away the key when outside. In
the front garden most probably ; 1*11 look."
Before he could put his design into execution,
which he intended doing by passing out the
back way, Mrs. Presk arrived downstairs with the
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THE DEATH-CARD 19
intelligence that Inspector Lackland was still search-
ing the upper portion of the house for traces of the
assassin, but could find nothing and no one. " So,"
said she, '' I expect the wretch ran away after killing
poor Miss Ligram."
" By the front door," Gebb informed her, ** and he
locked it after him."
"Did he?" said Mrs, Presk, with a stare; "now
that's queer."
" Why ? " asked the detective, sharply.
" Because Miss Ligram always kept the front door
locked, and the key in her pocket That was one of
her queer ways which I never could abide."
Without a word Gebb returned to the Yellow
Boudoir, and searched in the pocket of the dead
woman. Sure enough he found therein a large key
which Mrs. Presk immediately declared to be that of
the front door. Gebb was puzzled, as this discovery
upset much of his previous reasoning.
" In that case the man could not have cleared out
by the front," he said, "as not having the key he
could not lock the door after him. Let us see the
back door ; he may have escaped in that direction."
"The back door was locked," said Mrs. Presk,
promptly. "I had the key in my pocket when I
went to the lecture."
" Was the door locked when you returned ? " asked
Gebb, more puzzled than ever.
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20 THE LADY FROM NOWHERE
"Yes, sir, it was. I had no thought that anything
was wrong until I came upstairs and saw the corpse ;
though, to be sure," added Mrs. Presk, suddenly, •* I
fancied it strange that the lights should be burning
so late in Miss Ligram's boudoir. I saw them from
the road, you know, Mr. Gebb; and the sight gave
me a turn, I can tell you."
" He must have got out through a back window,"
murmured Gebb.
"Indeed, he didn't, sir. When I brought Tilda
out of her faint in the kitchen I looked at all the
windows in the basement ; they are all bolted and
barred proper. Tilda and me's both careful on
account of burglars."
Gebb pinched his chin and shook his head in a
perplexed manner; after which he walked to the
window of the yellow room and examined it carefully.
It was fastened by a snick, the position of which
showed that the window was closed, and could not
have been used as an exit.
" Let alone the danger of the cove being seen by
a chance policeman, and taken up as a burglar,"
mused Gebb, ** what about the upstairs windows, Mrs.
Presk?"
" They're all locked, sir. Mr. Inspector examined
every one."
"Then the man must be in the house still/' was
Gebb's final conclusion*
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THE DEATH-CARD 21
"He isn't," insisted Mrs. Prcsk, with a startled
glance over her shoulder; ''we've looked under all
the beds, and into all the rooms and cupboards.
Unless he is like a sparrow on the house-top, I don't
know where he can be."
"Well, there doesn't seem any way by which he
could get out," said Gebb, in a vexed tone. ** Did
you hear any sound in the house when you arrived
home ? "
" No, I didn't, sir. I went up to see if Miss Ligram
was ill, as I noticed that her room was lighted up,
then I saw the corpse, and called 'Tilda, who ran up
and fainted. She ain't got my nerves, Mr. Gebb."
" Did you lock the back door when you came in ? "
** Lawks, no, sir t 'Tilda and me was in such a
flurry to see if Miss Ligram was ill that we just left
the door anyhow.
**When you went upstairs was the door closed
to?"
* I think so," replied Mrs. Presk, after a pause, " for
Tilda banged it to ; but it wasn't locked, I'll take my
dying word on that"
"When you came for the. police did you leave by
that door ? "
"Yes, I did; by the back door, as Miss Ligram
kept the front one locked."
"Was it closed when you went out?"
Mrs. Presk looked up suddenly, rather alarmed.
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22 THE LADY FROM NOWHERE
** No sir, it wasn't," said she in startled tones, ** it was
— as you might say — ajar."
" Aha ! " said Gebb, triumphantly, " then you may
depend upon it, Mrs. Presk, that when you came
home the assassin was in the house."
" In the house !^" gasped Mrs. Presk. " Lor, sir ! it
ain't possible."
" Yes ! he did not know where to find the front-
door key ; and discovering that the back door was
locked, he just hid himself in the kitchen until you
and the servant went upstairs to look on his handi-
work. Then he slipped out to escape the conse-
quences."
Mrs. Presk's knees gave way, and she was fain to
sit down — as far away from the dead body as possible
however. " It's past believing," she moaned, rocking
herself to and fro. ** Lord I what an escape 'Tilda
and me's had from being strangulated. Ugh 1 " she
shuddered, ** look at that poor soul, sir, ain't it enough
to freeze your blood."
" Did it freeze yours, that you ran out of the room ? "
asked Gebb, hoping to take her unawares.
" No ! a'wasn't that I " whispered Mrs. Presk, turn-
ing pale, " but I was afeard i "
*' Of what?" asked the detective, rather puzzled.
" Of you, sir," was the unexpected reply.
"Indeed! then you know something about the
matter ? "
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THE DEATH-CARD 23
" Yes ! ** issued from the landlady's pale lips, " I— I
noticed something."
" What did you notice ? *•
" I daren't tell you."
"You must 1"
Mrs. Presk rose and hastily made for the door.
Before she could reach it Gebb had placed his back
against it * You don't leave this room until I know
what you are hiding."
"I'm hiding nothing!" burst out Mrs. Presk,
" haven't you got eyes ? " She pointed towards the
dead woman. " Look 1 " she cried " Look ! "
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CHAPTER III
A WOMAN WITHOUT A PAST
As desired, Gebb looked at the gaily decked figure
in the chair, and tried to find out what Mrs. Presk
meant
"Well, I'm looking," he said at length, "but I'm
blest if I can see anything."
" Of course you can't 1 " cried the landlady, hysteri-
cally triumphant, " 'cause they ain't there I "
"What aren't there?"
"The diamonds!"
" Diamonds 1 " repeated Gebb, with a start, as he
noted that the dead woman wore no jewellery.
" Had she diamonds ? "
" I should think she had ! " said Mrs. Presk, sitting
down again. "Stars for her hair, rings, bracelets,
and the loveliest necklace you ever saw — ^just like
dewdrops with the sun on them. She wore her
jewellery every night, and all to eat her chop. I
saw them diamonds on her afore I went to the
lecture."
" And when you came back they were gone."
" Every one of them," replied Mrs. Presk, defiantly,
" and when I noticed it — for, to own up, Mr. Gebb,
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A WOMAN WITHOUT A PAST 25
I didn't notice they were gone till I was here with
you talking about her dress — ^but when I did notice,
I ran out of the room 'cause I was a-feared you might
say Tilda and I stole 'em.''
" Nonsense ! Why should I say that ? "
« Oh, there ain't no tellings," said Mrs. Presk, with
a toss of her head.
** Was that why you made all that howling ? '*
•*Yes, it was, sir; and I ran out to the kitchen
to ask 'Tilda if she had noticed if the diamonds were
gone when we came in first ; for I was that flurried
I didn't look for 'em.*'
"And does Tilda say the diamonds were gone?'*
" Yes ! I dessay the murdering villain who killed
the poor dear stole 'em. I wish I had the hanging
of him.'*
^Oh, you may assist me to put the rope round
his neck," said Gebb. "Well, Mrs. Presk, I'll come
and see you to-morrow, and you must tell me all you
know about this woman. In the mean time, I think
I hear the doctor coming."
The detective's ears had not deceived him, for
the approaching footsteps were those of the doctor.
Escorted by the policeman who had met Mrs. Presk,
he entered in no very good humour at being knocked
up at so late an hour. However, the looks of the
corpse, and the appearance of the room both
astonished and interested him; and he made his
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26 THE LADY FROM NOWHERE
examination. It took only a few minutes for him
to decide that the death had taken place shortly
before or after ten o'clock, and must have been
almost instantaneous. When the examination was
concluded, Gebb and the inspector left the house in
charge of the policeman, and returned to the station
to make their report While the prosaic Lackland
set down the bare details of the case for the in-
formation of the authorities, Gebb mused over the
events of the night, and pondered what was best to
be done under the circumstances.
As yet he had gained no information from Mrs.
Presk about her lodger, but intended to examine
her on the morrow when she was somewhat re-
covered from the strain of the late events. In the
mean time, Gebb fancied that the strange room, de-
signed and furnished by the dead woman, might
turn out a more important factor in the matter
than at present appeared. Even if Mrs. Presk did
prove to be ignorant of Miss Ligram's past — which
was extremely unlikely — the strongly marked and
eccentric taste of the lodger, as exemplified in
illumination, colouring, and furnishing, might provide
a sufficiently stable basis for operations. In a word,
Gebb considered that the most promising clue to
the mystery was the predominance of the colour
yellow in the sitting-room. Criminal problems^ as
he knew, had been solved by slighter means.
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A WOMAN WITHOUT A PAST 27
As Lackland surmised, Gebb, being high in favour
with the authorities as a detective of no ordinary
capabilities, had little difficulty in gaining their
consent to taking charge of Ihe case. The inspector
made his report, Gebb his application, and after
the due formalities had been complied with, the
detective found that the responsibility of tracing
Miss Ligram's assassin lay solely on his own
shoulders, which — as he comfortably assured him-
self — were quite capable of bearing the burden. He
was the more pleased with his employment, as the
Grangebury murder case promised to be one of
those mysteries which he loved. A dead woman :
a strangely furnished room : a pack of cards : these
were the elements of the case, and, so far as Gebb
could see at present, there was no clue — save the
lavish use of the colour yellow — to the past of the
victim, or the identity of the assassin. In Mrs.
Presk lay his sole hope of gaining intelligence
likely to lead to some practical result ; so at eleven
o'clock next morning Gebb, in an anxious frame of
mind, was once mere on the scene of the murder,
and in the presence of his principal witness.
In the searching light of day Mrs. Presk was
more uncomely than ever. Tall, gaunt, angular, and
dressed in the worst possible taste, she presented
few of the alluring graces of her sex. To have
woo'd, and won, and lived with this strident
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28 THE LADY FROM NOWHERE
Amazon, the late Mr. Prcsk must have been a
suitor of no ordinary courage. However, she made
an excellent witness, as her brain was clear, her
courage high, and she had not a morsel of imagina-
tion. Moreover, her hysteria of the previous night
had disappeared.
She answered Gebb's leading questions in a cut-
and-dried fashion, without discursive rambling after
her own private opinions: but with all this, the
examination, and the details obtainable therefrom,
proved to be anything but satisfactory. Considering
the business-like instincts of detective and widow,
a more meagre result can scarcely be conceived.
''For how long has Miss Ligram been lodging
with you ? " was Gebb's first question, put in a form
which appeared to assume that the victim was still
in existence.
" For three months," replied Mrs. Presk, referring
to a dingy little book with which she had furnished
herself, in anticipation of the ordeaL ''She came
to me on the first of May last ; she left here — for
heaven, I hope— on the twenty-fourth day of July ;
so, as you can see for yourself, Mr. Gebb, she has
been with me two months and twenty-four days,
neither more nor less ; and there ain't no Court of
Law as I'd swear different in."
"She came in answer to an advertisement, I
suppose ? "
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A WOMAN WITHOUT A PAST 29
**No, she didn't," contradicted the widow. "I
don't advertise : it's low. I put a card in the window,
and it was that card which made Miss Ligram apply
here for board and lodging. She applied/' con-
tinued Mrs. Presk, consulting her book, •'on the
twenty-ninth of April, and I agreed to take her on
the thirtieth ; so that she entered my house on the
first of May."
" Why two days' delay ? "
"Because I couldn't make up my mind about
taking her in."
« She offered you too little?"
**0n the contrary, Mr. Gebb, she offered me too
much."
"No wonder you thought her eccentric," said the
detective, with irony; "but kindly explain the position
more fully."
"I asked her three pound a week for parlour,
bedroom, fire, and light, which is little enough, I'm
sure, as evers^hing in my house is of the best To
my surprise. Miss Ligram offered to pay me six— just
double — on condition that I allowed her to dismantle
the front room, and refurnish it herself."
"Did she give any reason for this singular
request?"
"She said she liked her own goods and chattels
about her," replied Mrs. Presk ; " and though at first
I did not fancy the idea of clearing out the parlour
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30 THE LADY FROM NOWHERE
— which was most handsomely furnished — ^j-et, on
thinking over th^ flatter,- 1 decided that double the
money I asked was not to be despised. I therefore
agreed to Miss Ligram's terms, and on the last day
of April I dismantled the parlour. On the first of
May Miss Ligram came in a van and *'
** Came in a van ? " interrupted Gebb, profoundly
astonished.
'' Yes 1 she rode beside the driver, and he assisted
her to set out the parlour in the style you saw. It
was all done in a day by the pair, for Miss Ligram
would not let me help."
" Perhaps she was afraid of your asking the driver
questions as to where she came from?" suggested
Gebb, shrewdly.
" She might have saved herself the trouble/' said
Mrs. Presk, grimly. " I did speak to the driver, and
asked that very question, only to find that he was
deaf and dumb."
" Queer 1" murmured the detective, rubbing his
nose. "She took good care to hide her past I
wonder why ? "
"I don't," snapped the landlady with feminine
malevolence; "it's my opinion that Miss Ligram's
past was not respectable."
" H'm ! I must say it looks like it. What was the
name on the van ? "
"There was no name, Mr. Gebb. The van~*
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A WOMAN WITHOUT A PAST 31
painted yellow, with one grey horse and a red-headed
driver, deaf and dumb — was the private property
of Miss Ligram. It was not the firsf time she had
moved that yellow room about," and the widow
nodded significantly.
" Why are you doubtful of Miss Ligram's past ? "
"Well!" said Mrs, Presk, taking time to answer
this question, "you can only judge a person's past by
a person's present, and Miss Ligram knew too many
shady people for my taste."
" Shady people ! " echoed Gebb, pricking up his ears
at this hint of a clue ; " what sort of people ? "
"Fortune-tellers, conjurors, spiritualists, and such-
like, sir."
** Ah ! " Gebb recalled the spread-out pack of cards,
" so she was rather superstitious."
" Superstitious I " cried Mrs. Presk, casting up her
eyes. " She was a very pagan for omens, and talis-
mans, and consultation of cards. There wasn't a
fortune-teller in London she hadn't down here at
one time or another to read her hand, or question
the stars, or look into the crystal ball, or spread out
the cards. She was a perfect gold mine to those
swindlers, believing all their lies, like the poor be-
nighted heathen she was."
" What did she particularly seek to know ? "
" The future ! " was the landlady's curt reply.
"No doubt," returned Gebb, dryly; "and her own
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32 THE LADY FROM NOWHERE
future at that. But w^^therg%any particular aim in
herquestionujgifc';*' '^ ^
"Yes I " saici Mrs. Presk, with a burst of confidence,
"there was. I found it out from one of her fortune-
telling visitors. She wanted to know if she would
die by violence."
"So!" said Gebb, drawling out the word reflec-
tively in the German fashion. ^ And was a violent
death predicted ? '*
" It was— by the fortune-teller I asked, Mr. Gebb ;
and sure enough the prediction came true, though,
as a rule, I don't believe in such rubbish; still it
was queer she should die with the ace of spades in
her lap." ^
"A fortune-teller was with her on the night she
was killed," said Gebb, after a pause.
"How do you know, sir?" questioned Mrs. Presk,
eagerly.
" Because the cards were laid out, and the death-
card was in the lap of the corpse. Now I believe
that this man By the way," said Gebb, breaking
away from his original speech, "did Miss Ligram
smoke ? "
"Not to my knowledge," rejoined Mrs. Presk,
promptly. "She was a lady in her habits. Some
of 'em was queer, but they were all genteel ; indeed
they were."
" It's not out of keeping with well-bred habits for
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A WOMAN WITHOUT A PAST 33
a lady to smoke," corrected the detective, mildly.
** Many ladies do nowadays. But as — according
to you — Miss Ligram did not smoke herselfi it is
probable that her visitor was a man. I found the
stump of a cigarette near the chain When he got
behind it to strangle her^ "
" To strangle her 1 " repeated Mrs. Presk, horrified
''Do you think this fortune-teller killed her?"
"Yes, I do. I believe firmly that, attracted by
her diamonds, he verified his own prediction, and
murdered her in the most cold-blooded fashion."
''Impossible, Mr. Gebb. He was a friend of
hers!"
" Ah ! you know the man I " cried Gebb, pouncing
down on this admission.
"No, I don't I" cried the landlady, in rather a
nervous manner for one of her iron composure, " but
I know she had a visitor on that night She told me
she had a friend coming, but she didn't say if it was
a lady or a gentleman. It was because Miss Ligram
expected this person that she sent 'Tilda and me to
the lecture."
" Sent you to the lecture 1 " said Gebb, emphasizing
the first word.
" Well, she didn't exactly send us," explained Mrs.
Presk, reluctantly, " but she gave me two tickets and
suggested that we should go. Knowing her habits,
and always willing to oblige, I went, and took 'Tilda."
D
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34 THE LADY FROM NOWHERE
"What do you mean ?" asked Gebb, staring at the
landlady.
Mrs. Presk explained herself more clearly.
" On occasions Miss Ligram was ashamed of her
superstitions, I think, sir, for three or four times she
got me and 'Tilda out of the house while she con-
sulted her swindlers. Once," said Mrs. Presk,
consulting her book, "it was the Crystal Palace;
again, two seats at the Adelphi ; Earl's Court Ex-
hibition three weeks ago, and the local lecture last
night But we came back always to find her in bed»
until this last time," concluded Mr. Presk, with a
shudder.
" A strange woman," commented Gebb, thought-
fully. "So you never found out where she came
from?"
" No, sir, she was as close as wax. I called her the
Lady from Nowhere."
" You know nothing of her past ? "
" Nothing I She might have come from the moon
for all I know of her."
" You saw no letters, photographs "
" Nothing 1 " interrupted the landlady, emphatically.
** I saw nothing."
" Then," said Gebb, rising briskly, " I must stick to
the clue of the Yellow Room."
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CHAPTER IV
THE FIVE LANDLADIES
The journalist is the true Asmodeus of the day, and
is quite as fond as that meddlesome demon of inter-
fering with what does not concern him. He invades
the privacy of our lives, unroofs our houses, reveals
our secrets, and trumpets forth things best left untold
to the four quarters of the globe.
Gebb had an especial abhorrence of this magpie
habit of the Press ; as he averred, with much reason,
that the excessively minute details of criminal cases
set forth in the newspapers put the ill-doers on their
guard, and warned them of coming dangers, with the
result that they were easily able to evade the futile
clutches of the hands of Justice. Yet in the instance
of the Grangebury murder, the publication of details
had a singular result : no less than the assisting of
right against wrong.
As soon as the circumstances of the crime became
known, the repoijers of every newspaper in the
metropolis flocked to Paradise Row with expansive
notebooks, eager eyes, and inquiring minds. They
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36 THE LADY FROM NOWHERE
surveyed the house, questioned the police, inter-
viewed Mrs. Presk, and gave outline portraits of
the landlady and^her servant The Yellow Boudoir
especially attracted their attention, and stirred their
imagination to descriptions of Eastern splendour. It
was hinted that its magnificence was on more than a
kingly scale ; it was compared to the celebrated room
in one of Balzac's romances, and its furnishing and
appointments were minutely detailed in glowing
descriptions, exhausting the most superlative ad-
jectives in the English tongue. Also the unknown
history and strange death of its occupant were com-
mented upon ; guesses were made as to her identity ;
and reasons were given for her secretive life, for her
strange belief in, and consultation of, charlatans and
fortune-tellers and all those cunning gipsies who live
by the gullibility of the public Appeals were made
in these articles to the deaf and dumb driver to appear
and declare the mystery of the yellow van, the yellow
room, and their queer owner. In short, as the journals
were in want of a sensation, they made the most of this
material supplied by chance, and England from one
end to the other rang with the tidings of Miss Ligram*s
death, Miss Ligram's boudoir, and Miss Ligram's
mysterious life. And all this trumpeting and noise,
Gebb, the enemy of the Press, heard with singular
complacency, indeed, with pleasure and satisfaction.
" As a rule, I hate these revelations," said he to
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THE FIVE LANDLADIES 37
one who knew his views and wondered at his
equanimityy "as in nine cases out of ten they do
more harm than good by placing the criminal on his
guard ; but this is the tenth case, where it is advisable
to make the details of the crime as public as possible.
I rely on these descriptions of the Yellow Boudoir
to trace Miss Ligram's past life."
** In what way ? " demanded the inquirer.
**In the way of the yellow van," replied Gebb,
promptly. "As Mrs. Presk truly observed, the hard
fact of that van shows that Miss Ligram was in the
habit of moving from place to place with her tent,
and setting it up after the fashion of an Arab, in
whatever spot took her fancy. Now, when those
other people who have had the Yellow Boudoir set out
in its tawdry splendour under their roofs read of Miss
Ligram's death, and recognize the description of her
strange room, they will come forward, and detail
their experiences of the lady. So, in one way and
another, we may be enabled to trace Miss Ligram's
past life back to a starting-point It is the only
chance I can see of gaining any knowledge."
Within the week events of a strange nature justi-
fied the judicious belief entertained by the astute
detective. Letters in female caligraphy were received
at Scotland Yard, stating that the writers could give
certain information to the police concerning the
murdered woman. Also, a few days later, decayed
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38 THE LADY FROM NOWHERE
females of the landlady genus presented themselves
in person to detail their experiences of Miss Ltgram
and her eccentricities. From all these personal and
written statements it appeared that for four years, more
or less, Miss Ligram had been moving from one part
of London to another. In no one place she had
remained longer than six months, and in each her
conduct and mode of life had been the same. She
arrived regularly in the yellow van, and, having
obtained permission from the various landladies at
the cost of paying double the rent demanded, as
regularly set up and furnished her Yellow Boudoir.
As in the latest instance of the Grangebury episode,
she consulted fortune-tellers, spiritualists, and shady
people of a like nature, departing at the end of each
tenancy without a word as to her destination. It
would seem from this evidence that the woman was
consistent in her eccentricities, and conducted her
strangely secretive life on the most methodical
principles.
One thing which seemed of a piece with the dead
woman's desire for concealment, was that in every
place she — so to speak — camped in, she gave a
different name ; each appellation being stranger than
the last, and all apparently of her own manufacture.
She figured at Hampstead under the name of Margil ;
in Richmond she was known as Miss Ramlig ; when
housed in St. John's Wood she called herself Milgar ;
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THE FIVE LANDLADIES 39
and at Shepherd's Bush — but for the sake of clearness
it will be advisable to let the several landladies speak
for themselves — five persons, five pieces of informa-
tion more or less similar, and five obviously made-up
names. So much for the past of Miss Ligram.
Mrs. Brown, of West Kensington, stated that she
knew the deceased under the name of Miss Limrag.
She arrived at Mrs. Brown's in the month of May,
'95, and after a six months' tenancy departed in the
month of October in the same year. Mrs. Brown was
ignorant as to where she come from, and equally at a
loss to declare whither she went Both in coming
and going Miss Limrag used as a means of transport
the yellow van, and during her residence she inhabited
the Yellow Room of her own furnishing for the con-
sulting therein of the fortune-telling fraternity.
Mrs. Kane testified that a lady who called herself
Miss Milgar arrived in Shelley Road, St. John's
Wood, on the first day of November, '95, and left the
district in the last days of April, '96. Her conduct
during her six months' stay was similar to that
described by Mrs. Presk and Mrs. Brown. On the
evidence of such conduct, and the facts of the van
and boudoir (both yellow in colour), Mrs. Kane had
no hesitation in declaring that the murdered Miss
Ugram, of Grangebiuy, was her eccentric lodger, Miss
Milgar.
The information given by Miss Bain, of Crescent
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^C40 THE LADY FROM NOWHERE
Villa, Hampstead, showed that the name assumed
there by the wandering lady was Margil, and that she
took possession of her lodgings there in the month of
November, '93 — having arrived, according to her
custom, in the yellow van. While the lodger of Miss
Bain, she gave herself up to the study of dream-
books, and the interpretation of visions. During her
occupancy of Crescent Villa, the landlady, in spite of
all efforts, could find out nothing about her past or
discover where she came from; and the so-called
Miss Margil departed with her furniture towards the
end of April, 1894. She left no address.
Miss Lamb, resident at Richmond, entertained the
unknown from November, 1894, to April, 1895. She
knew her by the strange name of Ramlig, and always
thought her weak in her mind, owing to her queer
mode of life, and belief in omens. When Miss
Ramlig made any boastful speech reflecting on her
worldly prosperity, she would touch wood to avert
the omen. "Absit omen"; "Umberufen"; "In a
good hour be it spoken " ; " N'lmporte." These words
and phrases were continually on her tong^ue ; and she
was a slave to all forms of superstition. She would
not walk under a ladder ; if she spilt salt she threw
a pinch over her shoulder; an unexpected meeting
with a magpie, a hunchback, a cross-eyed person, or
with a piebald horse, either made her rejoice in the
most extravagant fashion, or threw her into a fever
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THE FIVE LANDLADIES 41
of apprehension. She was not communicative, and
resisted all Miss Lamb's attempts at social mtcr-
course. During the whole period of her stay, no
words were spoken, and no event occurred, likely to
throw light on her past ; nor, when she departed, did
Miss Lamb discover whither she intended to go. In
coming, in staying, in going, Miss Ramlig was a
mystery.
The owner of Myrtle Bank, Shepherd's Bush, a
bird-like spinster called Cass, informed Gebb that
a certain Miss Migral lodged with her from the first
of May to the end of October, 1894. She arrived in
the van spoken of by the other witnesses ; she paid
double rent for the privilege of dismantling a room,
and therein set up her tent-like habitation of yellow
satin, furnished with cane chairs and tables, illumi-
nated with candles, and perfumed with incense. She
was, said Miss Cass, superstitious beyond all belief,
actually divining by teacups, and believing in the
future as foretold by the position of the tea-leaves,
after the fashion of illiterate servant-girls. Miss
Migral never went to church, she had — so far as Miss
Cass knew, no Bible in her possession; but read
books dealing with fortune-telling and necromancy.
One of her favourite volumes was "The Book of
Fate," another "The Book of Dreams," and she
appeared to have an insatiable desire to know the
future ; but for what reason, Miss Cass — in spite of
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42 THE LADY FROM NOWHERE
all efforts — was unable to discover. This strange
creature departed with all her worldly goods for
some unknown destination during the last days of
October, 1894.
Mrs. Presk was the last landlady who received this
mysterious woman, and knew her as Miss Ligram.
She arrived at Paradise Row at the banning of
May, 189S, and met with a violent death three
months later. Mrs. Presk was as ignorant of the
woman's past as the other landladies had been. She
arrived from nowhere, and, no doubt, would have
departed six months later in an equally mysterious
fashion. But in the middle of her Grangebury
tenancy, a violent death put an end to her further
wanderings.
Gebb heard all this evidence, which was monotonous
from its sameness, with much satisfaction and great
attention. By means of the details afforded by the
five landladies and Mrs. Presk, he traced back the
wanderings of the dead woman to the month of
November, 1893, but further back he was unable to
go, for lack of information. In spite oT all publicity
given to the case, notwithstanding advertisements,
and his own private efforts, no other witnesses came
forward to give evidence as to the past of Miss
Ligram; so, finding he was at a dead stop, the
detective resolved to stand — at all events for the
present — on the information he had already acquired.
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THE FIVE LANDLADIES 43
For hb own private information and guidancCi he
tabulated an account of Miss Ligram's names,
addresses, and former landladies, together with the
dates of her various rests, as follows : —
Miss Bain, Hampttoul . • • • Margil, Not., 1893, to
April, 1894.
&lisi Cass, Shepherd's Bosh • • • Migral, May to Oct.,
1894.
Miss Lamb, Richmond • • . Ramlig, Nov., 1894, to
April, 1895.
Mrs. Brown, West Kensington • • Limrag, May to Oct^
1895.
Mrs. Kane, St. John's Wool . • > Milgar, Nov., 1895, ^o
April, 1896.
Mrs. Presk, Grangehnry • • • Ligram, April to July,
1896.
And at the foot of this table he noted the fact that
on the night of the 24th July, 1896 — according to
medical evidence at ten o'clock — the so-called Miss
Ligram met with a violent death at the hands of
some unknown person.
So far so good; but here Gebb's information
came to an end, and beyond a few years' know-
ledge of Miss Ligram's past, he had no evidence
to show him why she had taken to this mode of
life, or why her eccentric manner of living should
have been cut short by violence. Ready as he was
in resource, the detective did not know how to
act, or in which direction to turn for information.
While thus perplexed he received a hasty note
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44 THE LADY FROM NOWHERE
scribbled on a half-sheet of diiiy paper. It ran as
follows :—
*'48^ Guy Street, Pimlico.
*'Come and see me at once, about the Grangebuiy
case. I have solved the mystery, and can hang the
criminal. — ^Yours,
*• Simon Parge."
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CHAPTER V
A FRIEND IN NEED
But that Gebb knew the writer of this curt note,
which was hardly civil in its brevity, he would have
been much surprised at the untoward chance of its
coming at so critical a moment to help him out of his
difficulties. As it was, he felt more relieved than
astonished, and hastened to obey the summons with-
out delay. It was not the first time he had used
Mr. Parge as a finger-post to point out the right path,
and in the present instance he was rather vexed with
himself that he had not applied before in this quarter
for advice and guidance. But better late than never,
thought he, while repairing his error, and making up
for his neglect by replying in person to the summons.
Towards Parge, the detective stood in the relation
of pupil to master ; for it was Parge who, observing
his abilities, had induced him to join the profession,
and had never ceased to praise, and blame, and help
him on to the best of his ability. For some con-
siderable time Parge had been a noted detective
himself, and he had retired within the last few years
4S
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46 THE LADY FROM NOWHERE
into private life, owing to a tendency to obesity and
an increase of years which forbade his further exer«
cising his talents in the way of thief-catching and
assassin-hunting. The criminal fraternity had rejoiced
rather too soon, when they heard that their great
enemy had retired on a pension; for Parge left
behind him a worthy successor in the person of
Gebb, and he still instructed the latter in particularly
difficult cases where two heads were better than one.
Mr. Parge, by reason of his eighteen stone, was
chained to an armchair for the rest of his life ; but
his brain was still active, and he took a sufficient
interest in Scotland Yard affairs to read all criminal
cases, and help his more active deputy to bring them
to satisfactory conclusions. The old detective sat in
his house like Odin on the Air-throne, and — through
the medium of the Press — knew much that was going
on in the shady section of society, which he had
watched for so many years. Frequently he instructed
Gebb how to act, and what conclusions to form on
slender evidence; and the pupil, when at a loss,
invariably turned to his master for a word of en*
couragement and explanation. But that Parge had
forestalled him by sending the note, Gebb, later on,
would have laid the case of the Yellow Boudoir before
his — so to speak — sleeping partner. •
" I guess the old man will be in a rage," said Gebb
to himself as he hurried with all speed to Pimlico,
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A FRIEND IN NEED 47
'' I should have seen him before on the matter, only
it has bothered me so. He says he has solved the
mystery — that means he has discovered who killed
Miss Ligram. I don't believe it — ^with the greatest
possible respect for Simon — I don't believe it"
The ex-detective dwelt in a little house in a little
square, and passed bis time usually in a huge arm-
chair, placed conveniently near the window, so that
he could survey the busy world from which he had
withdrawn* He was a Daniel Lambert for size and
rotundity, with a large red face like a full moon, and
an impressive girth which would have made the
fortune of an alderman ; but his eyes were keen and
bright, and the brain pertaining to this man-mountain
of flesh was as active as one cased in the leanest of
bodies. He was clothed in a gaudy-figured dressing-
gown of blue and red, wore carpet slippers on his
large feet, a smoking-cap with a large tassel on his
sparse locks, and sat amid a litter of newspapers.
Parge took in nearly every morning and evening
journal in London, and from dawn till dark read the
police news, cutting out all such cases as he deemed
worthy of his attention. In the evening he usually
played whist with his wife and two cronies^ or kept
the company enthralled by his stories of the scoundrels
he had exposed, and the under-world he had moved
in. Mrs. Parge— an anaemic woman, as slender as
SijQpn was stout—waited on her husband, and thought
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48 THE LADY FROM NOWHERE
him — intellectually and morally, as he was physically
— the greatest of men. She did all the house-work
with the assistance of a small servant, and, being an
excellent cook, had contributed not a little to the
weight and size of her spouse by preparing those
appetizing dishes which her Simon loved. The couple
had a comfortable income, a comfortable house, and
both enjoyed the best of health, so that the Parge
household was as happy a one as could be found in
London.
" My word, Absalom," said lean Mrs. Parge when
she opened the door, " you're going to have a bad
time ; youVe going to catch it Simon saw you from
the window, and is getting up steam to receive you."
A series of growls proceeding from the near parlour
proclaimed the truth of this warning, and when Gebb
entered the presence of his master, steam was got up
so far that Parge's smoking-cap came skimming past
the head of the visitor. Gebb picked it up and brought
it to Parge, who received him and it with a growl of
wrath. At Parge's feet lay a pile of newspapers, some
open, some folded, some with evidence of scissors'
work and some quite whole. On a near table there
lay a large volume bound in red cloth, which Gebb
recognized as one of the series of books in which
Parge noted down the more important cases, and
stored his newspaper cuttings. He wondered if the
old man had it at his elbow to throw at him, for
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A FRIEND IN NEED 49
Parge's fingers evidently itched to send the book after
the smoking-cap; but, as he refrained from further
violence, Gebb concluded that the volume had been
placed within reach of its owner for some purpose
connected with his visit He was right, as subsequent
events proved.
** Oh 1 " growled Parge, glaring at the young man,
"so you've thought fit to come at last?"
" I couldn't come sooner, Simon," protested Gebb,
taking a chair, " IVe been worried out of my life by
this Grangebury case."
"And what good has all your worry done, you
fool ? You've found out nothing."
" Indeed I have. I've traced back Miss Ligram's
life to the year '93. She is — but I forget — ^you don't
know the case."
"Don't 11" retorted Parge, sharply. "I know a
deal more than you can tell me. I suppose you are
in difficulties over the matter ? "
Gebb admitted that he was. "And I candidly
confess that I do not see my way out of them," he
added, with an anxious look at Parge.
The fat man grunted. " If you had come to me in
the first instance I could have saved you a lot of
trouble."
'* Can you explain the mystery, Simon ? "
"I can. If I couldn't, I wouldn't have- sent for
you."
£
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50 THE LADY FROM NOWHERE
"Do you know the motive for the committal of
the crime ? "
" I da IVe employed my wits to some purpose^
I can tell you."
*' And the name of the assassin ? "
"Yes ! Didn't I say in my letter that I had solved
the mystery, you fool ? "
"And where he is to be found ? " continued Gebb,
exhaustively.
For the first time Parge replied in the n^ative.
" There you have me/' he grumbled, scratching his
chin. " I know where he should be, but I don't
know where he is. It will be your business to find
him."
" If you'll give me a clue to his whereabouts, I'll do
my best," was the meek reply of the pupiL
"I can't," said the ex-detective, frankly. "I did
my best to hunt him down four years ago, before
I retired, and I failed."
"Ho.! Hoi So this cove has been in trouble
before?"
" Not only in trouble, but in prison."
"On what charge?" asked Gebb, with openly
expressed surprise.
" On a charge of murder ! "
"What! Is this assassination of Miss Ligram his
second crime ? "
••It is," replied Parge, enjoying the astonishment
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A FRIEND IN NEED 51
of his visitor ; " but this man — I'll tell you hfa name
later on— did not intend to kill Miss Ligram.'*
"But he did kill her— strangled her I "
*• Not Miss Ligram I " said the fat man, obstinately.
" Ligram was an assumed name."
'' I know that, Simon. She has passed under half
a dozen names.''
" So the papers say. Just run over the names."
Gebb did so promptly, giving the names in order.
^'Margil, Migral, Ramlig, Limrag, Milgar, and
Ligram.'
"Good I Now, Absalom, what strikes you as
strange about these names ? "
"They are all invented," said Gebb, after a
pause.
"Quite so," assented Parge, "and their invention
does credit to the imagination of the lady. Do you
notice that the same letters, differently placed, are
used in every instance ? "
** Anagrammatic ! " said Gebb, with a nod.
" Precisely 1 She manufactured all these false
names out of her real one."
" A very ingenious idea, Simon. And what is her
real name ? "
"Gilmar!" replied Parge, slowly. "Miss Ellen
Gilmar, of Kirkstone Hall, near Norminster, Hants."
For quite two minutes Gebb sat in silence, looking
at his chief in blended wonder and amazement Try
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52 THE LADY FROM NOWHERE
as he might he could not guess how the fat man
had come by this knowledge. What he, with the
use of his limbs, and the power of the law, had failed
to discover, this invalid — as he might be called — ^had
found out without moving from his armchair. In
a darker age Gebb might have judged Parge to be
gifted with necromantic power, or divination by
second sight
" Are you certain of this ? " he asked in a hesitating
voice.
"Quite certain!" cried Parge, furiously. "Quite
certain. Fm not a fool."
" But how did you find out ?"
" By exercising my memory and joining the past
with the present"
"In what way?" asked Gebb, still perplexed
"What clue had you?"
« The clue of the Yellow Boudoir."
" The Yellow Boudoir I " repeated Gebb, recalling
his own fancy.
"Yes !" said Parge, gravely "Twenty years ago,
in a room furnished in the same fashion, in a room
under the roof of Kirkstone Hall, there was >t murder
committed. In this book, " Parge here laid his hand
on the large volume, " there is a full account of the
trial of one, Marmaduke Dean, for the murder of
John Kirkstone ; and the crime was committed iq
the Yellow Boudoir."
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A FRIEND IN NEED 53
*But what has a crime committed twenty years
ago to do with the assassination of Miss Lig — I
mean, jo{ Miss Gilmar ? "
''Everything. Miss Gilmar only reaped as she
sowed You must hear the story in full before you
can see the connection. But to put the matter
briefly, you must understand that Dean was con-
victed of killing Kirkstone and was sentenced to
death. Afterwards, as there was some doubt about
the absolute justice of the verdict, the death sentence
was commuted to penal servitude for life. Dean
swore that he was innocent, and that the accomplish-
ment of the crime had been brought about by the
machinations of Ellen Gilmar. He swore, if his
life were spared, to escape from prison and kill the
woman who had placed him by her craft and cruelty
in the dock. About four years ago the man did
escape from Dartmoor Prison ; and it was dread lest
he should keep his word which drove Miss Gilmar
from lodging to lodging, under different names. For
some reason — best known to herself— she chose to
dwell in a room, furnished aAd draped similar to
that in which the first crime had been committed.
It was reading the description of that room which
put me on the right track.
''And you believe that Miss Ligram and Miss
Gilmar are one and the same person ? " asked Gebb,
breathlessly.
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54 THE LADY FROM NOWHERE
''I am certain of it, on the authority of the
Yellow Boudoir/'
" And you think that Dean murdered her ? **
"Yes; I believe that Dean kept his word/*
*' But what was his reason ? "
" Vengeance I " said Parge, opening the red book.
''Listen! I will tell you the case after my own
fashion, and you shall learn the reason why Miss
Ligram was strangled at Grangebury/*
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CHAPTER VI
THE CRIME OF KIRKSTONE HALL
It sometimes happens that a youthful spendthrid
becomes an aged miser, and hoards money in the
same extreme fashion as formerly he wasted it
John Kirkstone was a fair example of this species
of human chameleon. As his father's heir, he drained
the estate of all ready money, and squandered the
same in London without regard to economy or even
reason. In this riotous life he was encouraged by
a former college companion — one Marmaduke Dean
— who even went to the extent of borrowing money
of Kirkstone, and so became his debtor for a large
sum. Dean subsequently married a lady of fortune,
and repaid a portion of the money ; but either could
not, or — as was more probable — would not discharge
the whole. On this point Kirkstone, who needed
money for his pleasures, quarrelled with his friend,
and the pair parted to meet no more for some years.
It would have been better for both had they never
renewed their youthful friendship.
As might be expected, old Squire Kirkstone was
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56 THE LADY FROM NOWHERE
by no means pleased with his son, and did not relish
leaving his large fortune to one who probably would
waste it in a few years. The Hall and its surrounding
acres were entailed, and were bound to pass into
John Kirkstone's hands ; but the old man possessed
a large income acquired by speculation, which was
at his own disposal Wrathful at his spendthrift son,
he resolved to leave this personal property to his
only daughter ; and accordingly, when John became
Squire on the death of his father, he found that his
sister Laura was in possession of a good income,
while he had to be content with a dwelling far too
large for his means, and several farms whose tenants
did not always pay their rents. The shock of this
discovery was unpleasant, but salutary.
In the first place Kirkstone renounced his London
profligacy and associates, and came to live at the
Hall ; in the second, he insisted that his sister should
dwell with him, and pay a handsome yearly sum for
the privilege ; and in the third, he invited his first
cousin, Ellen Gilmar, to be his housekeeper. Laura
Kirkstone, who was a weak-bodied and wcak-natured
girl, readily consented to remain at the Hall, and
pay what her brother demanded, and as readily
welcomed her cousin Ellen as mistress of the house-
hold, a post for which she herself had no great love.
Having thus arranged matters, Kirkstone — though
not yet forty — became as penurious as formerly he
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THE CRIME OF KIRKSTONE HALL 57
had been wasteful ; and in this system of economy
was ably assisted by his new housekeeper, a shrewd,
cold-hearted skinflint
Laura, in derision, called Ellen Mrs. Harpagon,
after Moliire's miser; and well did Miss Gilmar
deserve the name. She was a little/ black, active
woman, with a neat figure and a somewhat pinched
white face. Her eyes were hard-looking, her lips
were thin, and she was a perfect skinflint in the
management of the household. Even Kirkstonc,
inclined as he was to economy, grumbled at times
about her excessive economy; but as the months
went by, he fell gradually into her saving way of
living, and the Hall soon gained a name in the
county for all that was mean and niggardly. The
larder was always kept locked, the servants were
ill fed, and the occasional beggars who came to that
forbidden door were not fed at all. Scraping, and
screwing, and hoarding of money became the order
of the day ; and Kirkstone soon found that he was
redeeming his former waste, at the cost of a hard
and somewhat hungry life. However, the habit of
living thus penuriously became confirmed, and both
he and Mrs. Harpagon vied with one another in dis-
covering new methods of saving money. The only
person in the Hall who did not relish this extreme
economy was Laura Kirkstone.
The attitude adopted by Kirkstone towards his
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58 THE LADY FROM NOWHERE
wealthy sister was a fairly amiable one. Having a
strong will, he compelled her weaker one to bow to it ;
and kept a sharp watch on her, lest she should many
some one of whom he did not approve, and so take
the money — which he looked upon as rightfully his
own — out of the family. Many a young man would
have been glad to marry Miss Kirkstone, both for her
money and good looks ; for in a pink-and-white sort
of way the girl was pretty; but Kirkstone invited
none of these would-be suitors to the house, and
turned a cold shoulder to them in public Laura was
forbidden even to speak to them ; and being kept
closely to her own home, lived in the gaunt, grim
Hall, like an enchanted princess guarded by two
ogres. And none of the young knights who wished
to marry her had sufficient courage to brave the
black looks of Kirkstone, or the acidulated sneers of
his amiable housekeeper and cousin. Such was the
position of affairs at Kirkstone Hall when Marma-
duke Dean again entered into the life of his former
friend.
It was the death of his wife which led to Dean's
visit to Kirkstone Hall. He had squandered the
fortune of the unhappy lady, and had treated her
with so much coldness and neglect that she had died
of a broken heart, leaving him a little son. Dean
promptly placed the child with some distant relatives,
and being poor again, looked about him for some
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THE CRIME OF KIRKSTONE HALL 59
means whereby he could procure money. Recalling
the easy-going and generous disposition of Kirkstone,
he resolved to apply to him for aid, quite oblivious to
the fact that he was already in his debt To this end
he one day presented himself at the Hall, and was
astonished to find that its owner, from a generous
friend, had changed into a miserly curmudgeon.
Kirkstone not only refused to help Dean, but de-
manded immediate repayment of the monies already
due. Dean, seeing that only trouble would come of
his application, was on the point of withdrawing, so
as to save himself the danger of being sued for the
lent money, when a new idea entered into Kirkstone's
knavish brain which made him detain Dean at the
Hall as a necessary element to bring it to fruition.
The scheme was none other than the marriage of
Laura to the disconsolate widower, and comprehended
a division of her fortune between the brother and the
proposed husband, an amiable arrangement which
really amounted to robbery.
Laura herself forced Kirkstone to adopt this plan
by reason of her refusal to let him handle the fortune
which had been left to her by their father. Like most
weak-minded people she was singularly obstinate en
some points, and, being cunning enough to see that
her sole hold over her brother lay in retaining com-
mand of her money, she always evaded his proposals
to manage her investments. Beyond the income he
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60 THE LADY FROM NOWHERE
derived from the sum she paid for board and lodging,
Kirkstone had nothing to do with these monies, of
which, as he frequently stated, he had been robbed.
Naturally he was angered to think of his loss, and
tried several times to bully Laura into surrendering
her fortune. The result of this ill-judged conduct
was that Laura met force by cunning, and, tak-
ing a dislike to her brother, executed a secret will,
whereby she left the whole of the money to Ellen
Oilman
In this case there was no honour among thieves,
for the housekeeper tricked her master and cousin by
keeping secret the fact of the will, and when Kirk-
stone tried to marry his sister to Dean, he was quite
unaware that Ellen, for her own selfish ends, intended
to thwart the match if she could. Furthermore a new
and unforeseen obstacle arose to complicate matters,
for it chanced that both Laura and Ellen fell in love
with Dean. The scamp was a handsome man, with
a plausible manner, and Laura was quite willing to
marry him, and to settle half her fortune on him,
receiving in return a presentable husband with a
damaged reputation. It was agreed between Kirk-
stone and Dean that when the marriage took place
the latter should discharge his debt to the former, and
also pay over a certain sum of money by way of com-
mission on the marriage settlement So far all went
well, and Kirkstone invited Dean to stay at the Hall
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THE CRIME OF KIRKSTONE HALL 6i
until the marriage took place, and all pecuniary arran-
gements between them were settled. It was then
that Ellen threw prudence to the wind, and lost her
heart to Dean.
The result of this feminine weakness was that Ellen
did violence to her instincts by relaxing her stingy
rule. She kept the table supplied with better food
while Dean stayed at the Hall, she paid more atten-
tion to her dress, humoured the man she loved in
every way, and altogether behaved in a manner so
alien to her natural self that Laura became suspicious.
The end of this folly was that Laura discovered
Ellen's secret, and lost her temper over it. She
accused Dean of making love to Ellen, and Ellen of
encouraging his advances. Kirkstone was told this
by his sister, and he, seeing a chance of his losing
money by the marriage not taking place, had a stormy
scene with Ellen. He threatened to turn her out of
the Hall as a pauper ; whereat the woman turned at
bay on her cousin, and revealed the truth about the
secret will
"If this marriage takes place,** she declared, •I
lose money as well as you, and if I can influence
Laura to refuse Dean I shall certainly do so. If it
comes to the point, we shall see who is the stronger,
you or I."
The upshot of this conversation was that Kirkstone
lost his temper altogether, and went to bully his
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62 THE LADY FROM NOWHERE
sister into revoking her will. Had he only remembered
that the same result would be attained by the
marriage taking place, he would have urged on the
match and defied Ellen. Instead of acting thus
sensibly, he vented his rage on Dean, and accused
him of encouraging the folly of the housekeeper.
Then Dean lost his temper in his turn, and quarrelled
with Kirkstone and Laura ; so in the month of July,
'76, it chanced that the four people inhabiting Kirk-
stone Hall quite misunderstood one another, and, for
the time being, were hardly on speaking terms. Dean
stormed at Kirkstone as trying to thwart the pro-
posed marriage ; Kirkstone blamed Dean as having
encouraged the love of Ellen ; and Laura, in her
weak way, fretted herself ill over the whole dis-
turbance. Only Ellen, the cause of all the trouble,
retained her placidity. She did not move an inch
from hel^ position. She had an end to gain, and in
one way or another she was determined to gain it It
was while things were in this unhappy state that the
country was startled by the news that Kirkstone had
been murdered by Dean. ->. ,
The tragedy took place in a certain room strangely
furnished by the mother of the present squire, which
was known as the Yellow Boudoir. It was a favourite
apartment with Kirkstone, who had turned it into a
smoking-room. On the night of the i6th of July,
Kirkstone and Dean were drinking and smoking in
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THE CRIME OF KIRKSTONE HALL 63
this roomy when apparently they renewed their
quarrel with a fatal result Kirkstone was found
dead in the room at midnight with a knife in his
heart This knife had been brought from America —
it was a bowie-knife — ^by Dean, and his name was
marked on the handle. Ellen deposed at the inquest
that, guessing the pair might quarrel, she had gone
downstairs shortly before midnight to implore them
to part Then she had seen Dean leave the Yellow
Boudoir in a state of alarm and alcoholic excitement
Afterwards Kirkstone asked her to tell Dean to come
down again. She did so, and Dean rejoined Kirk*
stone. When they parted for the second time Ellen
went to the smoking-room, and found Kirkstone
lying dead with Dean's knife in bis heart The
result of this statement was that Dean was arrested
for the murder of his friend, and, mainly on the
evidence of Miss Gilmar, he was found guilty. The
man protested his innocence in vain, and would have
suffered the extreme penalty of the law, but that a
sympathizing section of the public, not satisfied with
the judgment, prepared a memorial to the Home
Secretary. The sentence was then commuted to
penal servitude for life.
The immediate result of the crime was that Laura,
on seeing the dead body of her brother, and learning
that the man she loved had murdered him, received
such a shock that within three months she was dead.
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64 THE LADY FROM NOWHERE
As her will in favour of Ellen had never been revoked,
the former housekeeper came in for all her money.
Also, as no male heirs of the Kirkstone family were
left, Miss Gilmar, by the will of her great-great-
grandfather, and as the daughter of John Kirkstone's
paternal aunt; inherited the estates. Therefore Ellen
Gilmar lost the man she loved, but found herself a
wealthy and lonely woman. Only one thing she
feared, and that was a violent death ; for Dean had
declared that his unjust sentence was due to her
lying evidence, and that, if his life were spared, he
would some day kill her. Apparently he had done so.
Such was the statement of the Kirkstone Hall
Crime, which was undoubtedly in some secret way
connected with the more recent murder of Ellen
Gilmar at Grangebury. The question was— did Dean
strangle her out of revenge, since he had escaped
from prison about the time Miss Gilmar left the Hall
on her lonely wanderings, and was at large to carry
out his threat ?
If Dean murdered Kirkstone he would have no
compunction in committing a second crime to revenge
himself on the woman who had delivered him into the
hands of Justice.
If Dean did not murder Kirkstone it might be that,
enraged at his unjust sentence, he had killed Miss
Gilmar to punish her for the lying evidence which had
smirched his name and ruined his life.
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THE CRIME OF KIRKSTONE HALL 65
In either case there was the thi-eat to murder Miss
Gilmar, which, on the face of it, implicated the convict
in the Grangebury murder. Deeming the man guilty
of the first crime, Parge declared that he hadcommitted
the second.
Putting aside the first crime, Gebb maintained that
Dean was innocent It now remains to discover
which of the two is in the right
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CHAPTER VII
COMMENTS ON THE CRIME
It must not be supposed that in informing Gebb of
these details in connection with a long-forgotten
crime, Parge gave the exact context of the news-
paper reports. He used them rather as notes to
refresh his memory, and detailed the somewhat
barren information in a conversational manner, add-
ing, suppressing, and amplifying evidence in the way
most necessary to convey a clear idea of the case to
his hearer. Yet at the conclusion of his reading, or
rather narrative, Gebb was not satisfied. To him
the case seemed incomplete.
'' I know a good deal of what happened before the
murder," he said bluntly, '* but very little about the
crime itself."
''You know all that was reported in the news*
papers," replied the fat man, casting the heavy book
on the table with some irritation.
"Probably; but now I wish to know such details
as were not given to the public You cao supply
them."
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COMMENTS ON THE CRIME 67
*• Certainly I Ask what you like, and 1*11 answer.
Youll arrive at an understanding of the case soonest
that way."
Gebb remained silent for a few minutes^ and
watched Parge lighting his pipe. Then he asked
suddenly, * Do you believe that Dean is innocent of
this Kirkstone Hall crime?'*
"No ! " replied Parge, deUberately, "I donV
" On what grounds ? "
" On the grounds of his defence.'*
"H'm!" said Gebb, with an astonished look;
^ those are queer grounds on which to doubt a
man."
"Well, Absalom, you can judge for yourself.
Dean declared that he was innocent"
^ They all do ; and no doubt, having regard to
this new crime, he said that Miss Gilmar was
guilty."
"No, he did not accuse her. He ascribed the
crime to Laura."
"What! to the sister?"
"Yes I the mean hound, to the woman he was
about to marry. Is not such a foul accusation
enough to make you believe the wretch to be
guilty?"
" Not quite," rejoined Gebb, dryly ; " a man may be
a blackguard without being a murderer. Besides,
this Laura seems to have been weak — in fact»
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68 THE LADY FROM NOWHERE
half-witted ; so Dean might have had some grounds
for his belief. However, if you can recall his defence^
I shall be in a better position to judge.''
•* Briefly," replied Parge, *'his defence was as
follows. He declared that he was left alone with
Kirkstone in the Yellow Boudoir, or rather smoking-
room, about half-past ten o'clock,"
''Who left him and Kirkstone alone ? "
" The ladies. They accompanied the two from the
drawing-room, and chatted with them for a few
moments before saying good night"
"What!" cried Gebb, suspiciously, •'in spite of
the disturbed atmosphere of the house, and the
quarrelling ? "
'' Yes I there existed, it seemed, a kind of armed
neutrality, and, notwithstanding the situation, the
quartet were civil enough to one another."
** I have my doubts about so improbable a situa-
tion," said Gebb, shaking his head. '' Well, and what
took place after the ladies retired ? "
*' Kirkstone and Dean quarrelled over the marriage.
Kirkstone, it seemed, began to taunt Dean about his
attentions to Miss Oilman Dean turned round, and
declared that he was not attached to Miss Gilmar ;
nor, for the matter of that, to Laura. Both women,
he said, were in love with him, and he could marry
either without consulting Kirkstone. He furthermore
swore that if Kirkstone insulted him any more, he
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COMMENTS ON THE CRIME 69
would marry Laura without her brother's consent,
and refuse to pay the money."
"And no doubt at this point Kirkstone lost his
temper," sug^sted Gebb.
*' So Dean declared ; and the quarrel reached such
a pitch that Dean "
-KiUed Kirkstone," finished Gebb, quickly.
« No," replied Parge ; « he denied that He left
the room, according to his own story, about eleven
o'clock, and retired to his bedroom. Shortly before
midnight, when he was considering how to act, Ellen
Gilmar knocked at his door and said that Kirkstone
wanted to see him in the smoking-room. Dean
descended and found Kirkstone dead. At first he
was tempted to give the alarm ; but reflecting on the
quarrel, which must have been overheard by some of
the servants — ^a fact afterwards proved — ^and finding
that the knife with which the crime had been com-
mitted was his own, he fled back to his room. Then
Miss Gilmar came to see what had occurred — found
the dead body, and gave the alarm. She accused Dean
of being the murderer, because she had left Kirkstone
alive when she brought the message, and afterwards
found him dead when Dean fled from the room."
" But how did Dean implicate Laura ? "
•He declared that he had given her the bowie-
knife at her own request to prune some plants with
in the conservatory."
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70 THE LADY FROM NOWHERE
" Now, that is ridiculous ! " cried Gebb.
" Of course it is ; and a further proof of his own
guilt Ladies don't use bowie-knives to prune plants.
Dean, however, stated that he left Kirkstone alive
when he first retired to his room. Miss Gilmar
stated that her cousin was not dead when she con-
veyed the message to Dean: so for the defence it
was maintained that between the time Miss Gilmar
left Kirkstone and the time Dean returned to the
Yellow Room for the second visit, Laura must have
killed her brother with the bowie-knife, which she
had obtained two days previously from Dean."
" But why should Laura kill her brother ? "
^'Because, as prisoner's counsel argued, it was
probable that after the last conversation, Kirkstone
fancied that Dean might not pay the money if the
marriage came off, so he resolved to stop it by
exercising his influence over Laura while there was
yet time. Laura, so Dean declared, must have
revolted and killed Kirkstone in a moment of un«
controllable anger."
"Still, why should she bring the knife into the
smoking-room if she committed the crime on the
impulse of the moment ? "
*' Dean. did not^ould not — explain that point,"
replied Parge, with contempt; "all his defence was
that he gave Laura the bowie-knife, that he left
Kirkstone alive in the Yellow Boudoir about eleven,
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COMMENTS ON THE CRIME ^\
and that when summoned by Miss Gilmar he found
the man dead. Also, that he held his tongue
because he was afraid of being accused, as there had
been a quarrel between himself and Kirkstone."
**! don't wonder he was afraid," said Gebb,
thoughtfully; *'and in any case his defence was
extremely weak. What evidence did the prosecution
bring forward ? ''
*'Miss Gilmar was their principal witness, as she
was the last person to see Kirkstone alive. She
denied any knowledge of the bowie-knife ; but stated
that she had come downstairs to prevent further
quarrelling. Kirkstone was alone, but asked her to
request Dean to come back to the Yellow Boudoir.
She went up to Dean's room and asked him. At
first he refused, but later on consented. It was
twenty minutes between the time Miss Gilmar left
Kirkstone alive and Dean found his dead body. One
point of the evidence against Dean was that blood
was found on his shirt-cuff. He explained this away
by stating that he had felt Kirkstone's heart to see if
any life remained, and so got his cuffs soiled Mrith the
blood from the wound."
"What did Laura say to Dean's accusation?"
*' She denied it altogether. But it was the horror of
thinking that the man she loved deemed her capable
of such a foul crime which was one of the causes to
bring about her death."
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72 THE LADY FROM NOWHERE
"She was half-witted, you say?" said Gebb, after
a pause.
"No!" replied Parge, sharply, "I don't say so.
She was weak-witted and soft-natured, but, as I truly
believe, perfectly sane. I see that you think she
might have killed her brother in a fit of insane rage.
Well, that was Dean's defence ; or at least part of it
But Laura, when in the witness-box, declared that
after leaving Dean and her brother in the Yellow
Boudoir she had not left her room all night ; and in
this statement she was supported by Miss Gilmar.
Now you can see for yourself, Gebb, that Dean was
rightfully convicted."
"Well," said the detective, reflectively, ''it looks
like justice; but it may not be so. For my part,
knowing what I do of women, I should not be at all
surprised to learn that Miss Gilmar was the guilty
person."
"Some people suggested as much at the time,"
said Parge, in no wise disturbed by this suggestion.
"But I did not believe it then, and I don't now.
What possible motive could she have? "
"Quite as feasible a motive as the one ascribed
to Laura," replied Gebb. "Did not Kirkstone
threaten to turn her out-of-doors? Was is not his
intention to deprive Miss Gilmar of Dean by
marrying him to Laura? And did he not try
to induce Laura to revoke her will in favour
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COMMENTS ON THE CRIME 73
of the housekeeper? Oh, there are plenty of
motives."
''But when do you suggest she committed the
crime ? "
-Why, between the time Dean left the Yellow
Room and returned to it again. I dare say she had
a row with Kirkstone on her own account, and killed
him, then went up to Dean with a lying message to
implicate him in the matter."
"But,'' objected Parge, again, "why should she
accuse Dean ? He was the man she loved."
" Yes ; but he did not love her, and no doubt
since she was old and ill-favoured, he showed his
dislike to her advances too plainly. I fancy that it
was a case of a woman scorned, and that Miss
Gilmar revenged herself by accusing Dean. How-
ever, this is all theory," added Gebb, with a shrug,
" and, as such, is worth little. Dean was condemned
on Miss Gilmar's testimony, and, no doubt, intended
to kill her if he could escape. Although," added
the detective, inconsequently, "I don't believe he
did."
"Why not ?" said Parge, emphatically. " He did
escape^ and I believe he did kill her. As sure as I
sit here, it was Dean who strangled that wretched
woman."
" Humph ! Humph I " said Gebb, perplexed. " I'm
uot certaia"
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74 THE LADY FROM NOWHERE
"I am, Absalom. Why, she expected to meet
with a violent death at his hands. That was why
she leflt Kirkstone Hall, and concealed herself in
these various lodgings under several fabe names.
Besides, as I read in the papers, she constantly
consulted fortune-tellers as to whether she would die
by violence : a behaviour which showed how lively
were her fears."
"That is all very well," admitted Gebb, "but
there was no struggle : there was wine drunk ; a
cigarette smoked by the murderer : and Miss Gilmar
let him wander about the room. What does all
this prove ? That she knew her visitor and trusted
him. She could not, and would not, have trusted
the man who had sworn to kill her."
" He might have gone to her disguised as a fortune-
teller," suggested Parge. .
"That is rather an imaginative suggestion," said
Gebb, smiling. ''By the way, when did Dean
escape ? "
" Towards the end of '93 ; and you say yourself
that Miss Gilmar began her wanderings in that
year."
" Quite so ; and I admit that she fled to escape
Dean's vengeance, but I am not so certain that he
killed her. Remember, the diamonds were stolen ;
so it may be a vulgar murder for robbery, after all,"
••No," said Parge, sticking obstinately to his
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COMMENTS ON THE CRIME 75
point ^Dean killed her out of revenge, and stole
the diamonds to provide himself Mrith the means of
escape. Have you been round the pawnshops ? ^
"Not yet; but every pawnbroker has been
warned Also, I have sent detectives over to
Amsterdam and to Paris to watch if the diamonds
turn up.**
* Very good/' said Simon, with a nod; "if Dean
tries to pawn the jewels you'll catch him."
^I don't believe the thief is Dean."
^I do; and also that he killed Miss Gilmar.
Well, and what do you intend to do now ? "
** Go down to Kirkstone Hall and see the original
of the Yellow Boudoir."
« Good ! And afterwards ? "
* Interview the solicitor who conducted the defence
for Dean/'
''You mean the barrister/'
"No, I don't; I mean the solicitor. Who was
Dean's solicitor ? "
" Mr. Frain, of 40, Bacon Lane. You won't get
anything out of him, Absalom/' said Parge, warningly.
" He's as close as wax/'
*• Who was Dean's counsel ? " asked Gebb, ignoring
the hint
"Clement Basson," replied Parge; "you'll induce
him to talk freely — for a drink/'
** Oh ! he is dissipated ? "
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^6 THE LADY FROM NOWHERE
'* In a sort of way. A Bohemian barrister : ruined
his career through love of pleasure. Has had a few
briefs, but not enough to pay« and lives on a small
income."
Gebb noted this nutshell biography in his pocket-
book, and prepared to talce bis departure. He had a
parting glass with the fat man, and after promising
to advise him of all that took place in connection
with the case, he left the house.
" And tell me I " cried Parge after him, obstinate
to the last ; " tell me when you find Dean."
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CHAPTER VIII
MR. PRAIN, SOLICITOR
When Gebb left Parge he intended to go down to
Norminster with as little delay as possible and look
over Kirkstone Hall. There he hoped to learn
further details of Miss Gilmar's life, and to ascer-
tain, if possible, whether she had other enemies
besides the man she had condemned to lifelong
imprisonment Owing to her grasping disposition
and penurious mode of life, it was probable that
she had been extremely unpopular, and it might
be that amongst those who disliked her might be
found one who had carried the feeling so far as to
kill her.
On considering the circumstances of the case Gebb
could not bring himself to believe that Dean was the
assassin. All the same he was anxious to ascertain
the hiding-place of the convict, and make certain of
his innocence of this second crime ; with the first,
which was before his time, he had nothing to do.
On second thoughts, however, the detective judged
it would be wiser to call on Mr. Frain beforehand, and
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78 THE LADY FROM NOWHERE
learn his opinion on the matter. Also, Gebb wished
to discover why the solicitor had not come forward to
identify the body of Miss Gilmar. From the descrip-
tion of the Yellow Boudoir, so often referred to in the
papers, he must have been aware that the so-called
Miss Ligram was none other than Ellen Gilmar. If
so, why had he not assisted the police to trace the
woman's past history ? It was mainly to elucidate
this point — ^which might be an important one in
solving the mystery— that Gebb called at the office
in Bacon Lane.
Mr. Prain proved to be a small, lean-faced man,
with a sharp pair of eyes and a hard*looking mouth.
He was neatly and spotlessly dressed in the plainest
fashion, and his office, a somewhat dingy place, was
as clear and trim as himself. When Gebb sent in his
card Mr. Frain had only to glance at the name to
know that his visitor was the Scotland Yard detective,
and told the clerk to show him in at once. It was
with his hard little face set like a mask that Prain
received the officer of the law, for he had quite
expected sooner or later to receive such a visit, and
was not unprepared.
" You wish to see me, Mr. Gebb ? " said the solicitor,
in a low crisp voice.
"Yes, sir; about a case you dealt with twenty
years ago."
''Ohi Then you have no questions to ask about
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MIL PRAIN, SOLICITOR 79
the case of to-day ? '' said Prain, composedly, and he
darted a sharp look at his visitor to see how the shot
told.
** Do 3^u know my errand ? '' asked Gebb, some-
what uncomfortablyi for he was by no means pleased
to find that the little solicitor was prepared for his
reception, and could not conceive why it should be
sa
"Yes, Mr. Gebb, I do. If you had not called on
me^ it is probable that I should have paid you a
visif*
** It is two weeks since the crime was committed,
Mr. Prain ; so you have had ample time to calL"
«No doubt," returned Prain, dryly, "but it so
chanced that I was abroad in Italy. However, when
I saw the description of the Yellow Boudoir I hastened
back at once."
"You guessed by the description of the yellow
room that the murdered woman was Miss Gilmar."
" I did ! But may I ask how you found it out? "
" An ex-detective told me. He traced her identity
by the same means as you did. But for his recollection
of the room I should have known nothing."
« Oh I So the Yellow Boudoir gave Parge the due,"
said Prain, thoughtfully.
" Yes I But how did you guess that I referred to
Parge?"
*' He was the detective employed by the prosecution
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8o THE LADY FROM NOWHERE
to hang my client ; but he did not succeed, for Dean
still lives."
^'Ahy does he? Do you know where he is to be
found ? " asked Gebb, sharply.
" No ! ** replied Prain, shaking his head. • I know
that he escaped about four years ago, and that Miss
Gilmar, out of fear of him, left Kirkstone Hall lest he
should kill her ; I know no more."
"You know one thing at least," retorted Gebb,
astonished at the coolness of the man, ** that Dean
kiUed Miss Giknar."
•* I deny that," said Prain, sharply ; then after a
pause, he added, *' Do you know why I came back
to England on reading about her death ? "
*' No, I do not ! How should I ? "
•* And why I intended to call on you ? "
'* No t You'll have to answer your own questions,
Mr. Prain."
« Then Til tell you," said the solicitor, slowly. •* I
wish to find out if Miss Gilmar left a confession
behind her stating why, and how, she killed John
Kirkstone; it was for that reason I returned so
quickly."
" Miss Gilmar kill Kirkstone ? " cried Gebb, thinking
of his own suspicions. " Why, even your unhappy
client did not accuse her.**
*" My unhappy client, as you call him, was a fool,**
retorted Fiain, coolly; "he thought that Laura
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MR. PRAIN, SOLICITOR 8i
Kirkstone was guilty, whereas I am sure that the
housekeeper killed her master. But I could not bring
the crime home to her, and Dean was condemned to
penal servitude on account of a murder which I am
certam he did not commit When I heard of his
escape I thought he might find out Miss Gilmar and
make her confess. He slways intended to escape, if
possible, for that purpose."
Gebb thought for a moment ** Perhaps he killed
her, after all, because she would not confess," said he,
with some hesitation.
** No," replied Praia ^ Dean was wild and wasteful,
and, between you and me, Mr. Gebb, not altogether
as well-behaved as he might have been, but I am
sure he was not the man to commit a murder. Believe
me, he is as innocent of this second crime as he was
of the first"
"Well," said Gebb, thoughtfully, "I have my
doubts regarding his guilt in both cases. I agree
with you, going by the story told to me by Parge, that
Miss Gilmar killed Kirkstone, but who killed Miss
GUmar?"
^Some unknown person, for the sake of the
diamonds," returned Prain, promptly.
••The diamonds?"
•'Yes. Miss Gilmar took possession of Laura
Kirkstone's jewels, and amongst them were some
valuable diamonds. I read in the papers that Miss
Q
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82 THE LADY FROM NOWHERE
Gilmar wore those diamonds nightly, and that when
her dead body was discovered the diamonds were
gone."
* True enough,'* replied Gebb, " it might be a case
of robbery, as you say. But if the murderer tries to
dispose of those diamonds by sale or pawning, 111 be
able to catch him."
'* I may tell you," said Prain, after some reflection,
''that the most valuable of Laura's jewels was a
diamond necklace, which I see by the reports in the
papers was stolen by the murderer. Now, that neck-
lace was given to Laura by Dean, and Miss Gilmar
had no right to it"
" But how could Dean, who was almost bankrupt;
afford to give Laura a diamond necklace ? "
"The necklace was a family jewel," said the
solicitor, quickly ; ** and I have a description of it.
This I shall have copied and give it to you ; it may
assist you to trace the necklace."
"And thereby snare the murderer,'* answered Gebb.
" Thank you, Mr, Prain ; the description you speak of
will be very serviceable. And now I wish to ask you
a few questions about Miss Gilmar, if you don't mind
replying to them ?•*
"Why should I mind ?" retorted Prain, raising his
eyebrows.
" Farge gave me to understand yon were as close as
wax " said Gebb, pointedly. * I use his own words."
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MR. PRAIN, SOLICITOR 83
Prain slirugged his shoulders. "I don't deny it,"
he said quietly. "Why should I? Twenty years ago
I was trying to save Dean from being hanged, while
Pai^e was doing his best to place the rope round
the man's neck. Naturally, I was on my guard, and
refused to tell Pai^e all I knew. Your position is a
different one, Mr. Gebb ; as, with me, you desire to
learn the name of Miss Gilmar's murderer. I am quite
at your service, and you can ask me what you please."
^ Thank yoa Then tell me who inherits Miss
Gilmar^s property ? "
" Do you mean her real or personal estate ? " asked
Prain.
" Both," replied Gebb, promptly.
••Well, then, you must know that the Kirkstone
estates were entailed ; but the entail ended with that
first murder."
^ So I heard from Parge, Mr. Prain. In the male
line."
"Yes, in the male line. Afterwards, by the will of
the Kirkstone who bought them, and who lived some
hundred and fifty years ago, they pass on through
the female line. Now, the male line died out with
John Kirkstone, so that the estates passed by the will
to the female line, represented by Laura. When she
died Ellen Gilmar inherited through her mother, who
was Kirkstone's aunt on the paternal side. Now that
Miss Gilmar is dead the estates pass to John Alder,
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84 THE LADY FROM NOWHERE
a barrister, who inherits through his mother, a distant
cousin of the Kirkstones. If he died Edith Wedder*
bum would inherit''
" Who is she ? Another cousin ? "
^ Yes. Even more distant than Alder. She is now
at Kirkstone Hall, looking after it for Miss Gilmar,
who placed her there. So far as the personal estate
is concerned Miss Gilmar can leave it by will to
whomsoever she pleases.'*
"Have you the will?"
"Yes. But I can't open it save in the presence of
those likely to inherit : Miss Wedderbum and Alder
— in short, the relatives."
"Whom do you think the money is left to ? **
'' It's not my place to say," said Prain, with sudden
stiffness.
Gebb saw that the little solicitor knew the contents
of the will, but he was bound by professional etiquette,
and could not disclose them.
" Well," he said, covering his disappointment with
a cough, " we may leave that out of the question.
Tell me about Miss Wedderbum."
" I have told you," replied Prain, sharply. " She is
the caretaker of Kirkstone Hall, and is very poor."
*' Is she very pretty ? "
" Extremely pretty."
"Hoi hoi" said Gebb, in a jocular tone; "in
that case she must have lovers."
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MR. PRAIN, SOLICITOR 85
** She has two," answered Prain, dryly. " One is
John Alder.**
« What! the heir?*'
** Yes I If she marries him she will still be mistress
of Kirkstone HalL But she won't/' said Prain, rubbing
his chin with a vexed air, ** for the simple reason that
she likes her other lover better."
"Who is the other lover ? "
"An artist called Arthur Ferris. He is poor, but
handsome."
" Good looks won't make the pot boil," said Gebb,
sententiously. "Well, I'm not particularly anxious
for further information about her love affairs. What
I wish to know is, if Miss Wedderbum corresponded
with Miss Oilman"
" I can't tell you that : I don't know.'*
" Do you think Miss Wedderbum is aware of her
cousin's death?" said Gebb, putting the question in
another form.
* It's improbable, as she would have written to me
on the subject had she known. By the way, is the
body buried ? "
" Of course ; it is two weeks since the murder."
"True, I foi^ot," said Prain, thoughtfully. "I
wonder if Alder knows about her death."
''He can't know, unless he traced her by the
Yellow Boudoir."
** Qh, Alder dpest)'t kr^oyr mucl^ about t}iat room
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HE LADY FROM NOWHERE
ime, as he belongs to the younger genera-
the story is almost forgotten. However, I'll
im on the subject It is necessary that he
im his position as speedily as possible, if
:count of the will'*
is your own concern/' said Gebb, rising.
1 might arrange for me to have an interview
, as he might throw some light on the
to see how he can/' said Prain, raising his
''Miss Gilmar never corresponded with
g her travels. If any one will know about
1 be Miss Wedderbura"
['m going down to see her/' said Grebb,
1 his hat '' ril have a look at the original
[low Boudoir at the same time."
' said Prain, as the detective moved towards
" replied Gebb, turning.
I see Edith, ask about her lover."
1 of them, Alder Dr Ferris ? " said Gebb,
mention the name of either," repeated
iwly, "but ask about her lover. Then
ou'U see what will come of your qucs-
tective gazed steadily at the solicitor,
do you mean ? " he demanded, struck
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MR. PRAIN, SOLICITOR 87
by the significance of the man's words and
look.
" You'll find that out when she answers."
''How will she answer?" demanded Gebb, quite
mystified
''Ahl** said Prain, with a long breath, "you ask
and see.**
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CHAPTER IX
KIRKSTONE HALL
The day following his conversation with the little
solicitor, Gebb left Waterloo Station for Norminster
in Hampshire, and arrived at that quaint little town
about midday. On making inquiries he learned that
Kirkstone Hall was a mile distant, situate amid some
woods near the banks of the Avon.
As it was a fine morning, and Gebb was fond of
walking, he used his own legs to reach his destina-
tion; and after a pleasant stroll through rural
lanes, and across flowering meadows, he reached
a pair of finely wrought iron gates which stood
wide open. The gates themselves were covered
with red rust, the lodge beside them was shut
up, and the stately avenue, which curved upward
between noble oak trees, was overgrown with grass.
Even on the threshold, as it were, of the estate,
Gebb espied the ruinous economy of the late Miss
Gilman
On coming in sight of the Hall, he found the band
of Time still more heavily laid upon the works of
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KIRKSTONE HALL 89
man. It was a quaint Jacobean building of red
bricky set upon a slight rise, and surrounded by stone
terraces. From the main body two wings spread
to right and left, but the windows of these were all
closely shuttered The hall door was also closed,
and — so far as Gebb could see — no smoke curled
from the stacks of chimneys. The terraces were
grass-grown, the gardens untended and in disorder,
and the whole place had a silent, melancholy aspect
as though the soul of the house had departed. It was
the palace of the Sleeping Beauty, enchanted and
spell-bound, and it seemed as though there were a
curse on the place.
"And no wonder!'' said Gebb, looking at the
gaunt mansion, grim even in the sunshine, "seeing
the land of people who lived in it, and the crimes
they committed.**
He ascended the steps and rang the bell, but before
the sound had died away he was aware of a brisk step
approaching, and turned to see a young lady walking
along the terrace on the right
She was tall and dark, with fine eyes and a hand*
some face. Her figure was shown to perfection by
the trim, tailor-made costume which she wore. In
her hand she carried a silver-headed cane, and
walked smartly towards the detective, with the air
of a woman fully alive to the importance of tima
When she spoke, her voice was deep and full, but
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90 THE LADY FROM NOWHERE
the matter of her speech was remarkably business-
like. On the whole Gebb judged Miss Edith Wed-
derburn — for he guessed that this was the young
lady referred to by Prain — to be a clever, plain-
spoken woman, with few of the weaknesses of
her sex to hamper what she conceived to be her
duty.
** Good day ! " said the lady, with a comprehensive
glance. " May I ask what you want ? "
" I wish to see Miss Wedderburn.'*
"Well, you see her now. I am Miss Wedderbum.
Can I do an)rthing for you ? **
"Yes," replied Gebb, becoming as curt and as
business-like as herself, " you can give me a trifle of
information."
"Can I?" said Miss Weddcrburn, dryly. "That
entirely depends upon my humour and what you
want to know. Also, why you what to know it
Who are you?"
" My name is Absalom Gebb."
" I am no wiser," interrupted the girl, with pointed
insolence.
" Of New Scotland Yard, Detective," finished Gebb^
coolly.
This time his reply made a decided impression on
his hitherto cool auditor. The rich colouring of her
face vanished as by magic, and she became pale even
to- the lips. Nevertheless, she forced herself to smile
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KIRKSTONE HALL 91
with some composure, and controlled her emotion by
a powerful effort of will Startled as she was, she
even attempted to speak lightly.
"'And what does Mr. Absalom Gebb, Detective,
wish with me?" she said in a low voice, her eyes
fixed on the man's face.
" He wishes to ask you a few questions/' said Gebb
in the same vein.
« About what ? About whom ? "
•• About Miss Ligram."
^Ligram! I don't know the name," said Edith,
calmly. " Who is Miss Ligram ? "
• The owner of this place."
"You are wrong there, Mr. Gebb; the lady who
owns this place is called Miss Gilmar."
"* I am aware of the fact But it suited her to take
other names while she lived."
** While she lived!" repeated Miss Wedderburn,
raising her voice in surprise. ''What do you
mean?"
^ I mean that Miss Gilmar is dead I **
••Dead!"
••Murdered."
-Murdered! Oh, God I When? Where?"
•* In a suburb of London called Grangebury on the
twenty-fourth of last month."
Edith looked rigidly at the detective with horror in
her dark eyes, and for the moment seemed scarcely to
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92 THE LADY FROM NOWHERE
comprehend his news. She appeared to be genuinely
astonished and shocked ; yet her next question con-
veyed to Gebb a hint that she was not altogether
unprepared for the information.
'' Did he kill her ? " she stammered, laying her hand
on Gebb's arm.
" He ! Who ? " asked the cunning detective, trying
to trap her into a hasty speech.
''Dean I Marmaduke Dean I" saud the girl,
breathlessly.
** What do you know about Marmaduke Dean ? "
" Everything I No doubt I know more than you
do. Have you never heard of the murder which took
place in this house ? "
" In the Yellow Boudoir. Yes."
" Ah ! you know the story I *' cried Miss Wedder-
bum, suspiciously.
''I do ; and I have come down to see you about
it Please take me inside, Miss Wedderbum, and
show me the Yellow Boudoir in which Dean murdered
your cousin Kirkstone."
" My cousin Kirkstone ? You seem to know a great
deal of our family history, Mr. Gebb," said Edith,
drawing herself up.
^'I know as much as a report of the Kirkstone
murder could tell me: and as much as Prain the
solicitor knows.''
'•VouknowMr, Praiq?"
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KIRKSTONE HALL 93
" Yes 1 I was with him yesterday. But Tli learn
no good from this desultory conversation, Miss Wed-
derbum. Please take me indoors and we can discuss
the matter quietly. I am the detective in charge of
the case, so you need have no hesitation in telling me
all you know."
*I know nothing!" cried Edith, vehemently,
•* nothing I'*
•'It is for me to judge of that," retorted Gebb,
dryly.
The keen look he gave her, and the significance of
his tone and words, seemed to startle the girl. She
glanced defiantly at his watchful face, and strove
to match his gaze with a steady look of her own ;
bu^ whether from fear or modesty, her eyes fell, and
she turned away to obey his request and lead him
within doors. Gebb followed her in silence along
the terrace and round the corner of the house, until
they both paused before an open French window
which led into a pleasant, sunny apartment of no
great size. Before entering, Edith, who had evidently
been considering his last speech, turned to excuse
herselfl
' *• Mr. Gebb," she said, with an air of great dignity,
" your words seem to imply that I know more than I
dare telL I assure you that such a suspicion is unjust
and unfounded. The intelligence of Miss Gilmar's
death is terrible and unexpected to me ; and any aid
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94 THE LADY FROM NOWHERE
I can give you to bring the assassin to justice 3^u
shall have. Whatever questions you ask me I will
answer ; whatever you desire to see in this house I
will show you ; but in justice to myself, I must ask
you not to credit me with guilty knowledge."
" My dear young lady, I am the last person in the
world to do so/' said Gebb, quickly. " I do not for a
moment suppose that you know anything of your
cousin's unhappy death. I disclaim the sentiments
with which you credit me ; and I must admit that
there is no necessity for you to exculpate yourself as
you are doing."
" I am not exculpating myself in the least," rejoined
Miss Wcddcrbum, coldly, " but you detectives seem
to be so suspicious that you see ill where none exists."
Gebb laughed. " You have been reading detective
novels," said he, indulgently ; " believe me, we detec-
tives are not so black as the novelists paint us.
But, as I said before, this desultory conversation
is not useful. I would rather see the Yellow
Boudoir."
Edith nodded, and led the way into the house.
Gebb followed her through the sitting-room, which
faced the terrace, and down a wide passage, on the
wall of which hung many pictures, mostly ancestral
portraits. At the end of this passage his guide
unlocked a door, with a key selected from a bunch
which dangled at her girdle, and threw it open, so
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KIRKSTONE HALL 95
that Gebb could pass into the room before her. He
did so without hesitation.
"This is the Yellow Boudoir," said Miss Weddcr-
bum, following the detective ; " it was in this room
that the unfortunate Mr. Kirkstonewas killed twenty
years ago."
"ByDean!'»
*• Not by Dean/' replied Miss Wcdderbum, sharply.
" From all I have heard. Dean is as innocent of that
crime as you are."
" Then who b guilty ? " asked Gebb, artfully.
*I am not a detective," said Edith, moving towards
the window, "so I cannot give you an opinion. If
you will permit me I will admit air and light so that
you can see the room to its fullest advantage."
When they entered, the boudoir had been in a
kind of semi-darkness, as the shutters of the one
window were closed ; but now Miss Wedderbum
threw these open, and the sunlight poured in. The
dust raised by their feet danced in motes and specs
in the sun's rajrs, and Gebb, dazzled by the strong
glare, felt his eyes somewhat painful. However, they
soon became habituated to the flood of glorious light,
and he looked with deep interest at the original of
the room which he had seen in Paradise Row.
The apartment was larger than that which had
been occupied by Miss Gilmar in Grangebury, but
in every respect the furnishing and appointments
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96 THE LADY FROM NOWHERE
were the same, as she had carried out her whim with
the utmost care. The furniture, in place of beings
cane, was Chippendale ; the window and door were
differently placed; and the colouring of the whole
room was more subdued and mellowed by Time.
But the predominating hue was the same — the carpet
was yellow, sprinkled with bunches of pale primrose
flowers, the walls were draped with costly hangings
of golden tint, and, from a domed ceiling of drawn
silk depended an exact copy of the Arabian lamp
studded with knobs of yellow glass. The furniture
was cushioned and covered with yellow silk; the
vases and metal-work were of brass ; there was even
a brazen tripod and chafing dish standing in the
same position as its imitation had occupied in
Paradise Row. The main difference in the room
lay in the absence of books, knickknacks, flowers and
magazines, which showed that it was not in daily use ;
otherwise all was the same. Gebb almost fancied
that some genii of the lamp had transported the
Grangebury palace to Norminster.
^ It is just the same,'' he said aloud, having taken
in these details.
"What is the same?'' asked Miss Wedderbum,
who was standing near the window.
"This room. It is similar to that in which Miss
Lig — I mean in which Miss Gilmar was murdered."
The girl looked puzzled. "You are making a
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KtRKSTONE HALL 97
fBistake,'* she said ^ It was Kirkstone who was
killed here, not Miss Gilmar.'*
''Oh, but I am referring to the room at Graoge-
bmy," returned Gebb, quickly.
*" Miss Gilmar's lodgings, yon mean ? " asked Edith,
still perplexed.
''Yes. Her room was furnished like this."
"Impossible. From what I knew of my cousin
she would not have spent the money in furnishing a
costly room.*
" Nevertheless she did," replied Gebb, coolly. " Of
course the imitation was somewhat gimcrack, and
done on a cheap scale ; but, for all that, I assure you
the resemblance between the original and the copy is
marvellous."
''Strange!" muttered Edith, sitting down on a
primrose-hued couch. "I wonder why Ellen
Tell me all about this terrible murder," she broke off;
" all— -from the beginning."
H
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CHAPTER X
STRANGE BEHAVIOUR
After some reflection Gebb concluded that Miss
Wedderburn was quite ignorant of the causes which
had led to her cousin's death; also of the details,
and of the death itself. He therefore told her as
concisely as possible the story of the tragedy from
the time Mrs. Presk had been brought to the
Grangebury police-station, down to the visit he had
paid to Prain the solicitor. Some points in the
story he suppressed, others he amplified ; but, on
the whole, he gave her a very fair and unprejudiced
a rr mint.
th attentive ears, and her eyes fixed on the
y{ the narrator, Edith sat listening, her hands
ui loosely on her lap. Several times she asked
questions, but as a rule let the account flow
__ _ linterruptedly. WhenXjebb ended, she heaved
a deep sigh, whether of relief or pity the detective
could not say, and rose to pace up and down the
room. Evidently she was more moved by the tragic
fate of her wretched cousin than she chose to admit
98
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STRANGE BEHAVIOUR 99
Gcbb having told his story, waited for her to recover,
and comment on the matter.
" Poor Ellen ! " said Miss Wedderbum at length,
but speaking to herself rather than to her companion.
" A miserable ending to a miserable life ; but I am
not astonished."
"How is that?" said Gebb, with a sharp look
at her. ** Surely the tragedy is unexpected enough."
Miss Wedderbum shook her head *' Ellen always
said that sooner or later she would be murdered."
"By Mr. Dean?"
"Yes," replied Edith, quietiy, " by Mr. Dean."
*' Oh I " said the detective, taking a long breath.
«' I thought you believed in the innocence of Dean."
" So I do ; I never said I didn't I only remarked
that Ellen declared Mr. Dean would kill her."
** Well, she has been murdered, and in the most
barbarous manner. Do you say Dean is the
criminal ? "
"Do you?" said Edith, answering one
by asking another.
"I don't know what to think," replies
crossly.
"Neither do I," responded Miss Wedderbum ; and
then for quite two minutes there was a dead silence.
It was broken by Gebb.
"Was Miss Gilmar unpopular in these parts?"
he asked.
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100 THE LADY FROM NOWHERE
"Very unpopular; the people round here called
her Mrs. Harpagon, from her miserly habits."
" Did you like her, Miss Wedderbum ? "
'*Nol" replied the girl, coolly, "I did not;
neither did she like me. There was no love lost
between us. She wanted a caretaker, and I wished
for a home. My staying here is a simple matter
of business."
" But surely you are sorry to hear of her murder? "
•*! am not utterly without heart, Mr. Gebb,
although you seem to think so. Yes, I am sorry.
I would be sorry for any one who met with so cruel
a death."
" Had Miss Gilmar any enemies ? " asked Gebb,
impatient of this fencing which kept him at a
distance.
*' I told you she was unpopular," said Edith, slowly,
" but I don't know that she had any enemies bitter
enough to murder her."
« Except Dean!"
''Of course," she replied unmoved, "always except
Mr. Dean."
"Then he must have killed her."
" It's not impossible," retorted Miss Wedderbum,
coolly.
Gebb, a rare thing for him to do, lost his temper
completely. "Madame!" he cried in a rag^ "will
you or will you not answer me plainly ? "
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STRANGE BEHAVIOUR loi
''There is no need to raise your voice, sir. I am
answering you."
"But not plainly!*'
" What do you call plainly ? " asked Edith, with
a provoking smile.
**You know what I mean/' said Gebb, testily. "I
call black black and white white ; you call both a
kind of grey."
" I believe they are grey when mixed. However,
I see what you mean, Mr. Gebb, so do not lose your
temper. You wish to know why Miss Gilmar left
this place, how she left it, and why I am in charge."
''Yes, I shall be glad of the information."
" Very good," said Edith, calmly ; '' then you shall
hear my history."
"It will be just as well for you to tell it,^' said
Gebb, dryly ; ** at least, so far as concerns Miss
Gilmar. Every detail is of value in connection with
this case. Please go on " — and he took out pencil
and pocket-book.
" I am an orphan,** said Miss Wedderbum, taking
no notice of this action, " as I lost my parents some
five years ago. I was then eighteen years of age
and at a school in Canterbury, but on the death of
my father and mother I was unable to continue my
education. Therefore, as I had no parents, no friends,
and no money, I was in anything but a pleasant
position."
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102 THE LADY FROM NOWHERE
"Did your father leave no money?" inquired
Gebb, with sympathy.
" If he had I should not be here, sir. My father
died so poor that there was hardly enough money
to pay his funeral expenses. I tell you all these
details, Mr. Gebb, so that you may understand my
position here. When I found myself thrown on the
world I did not know what to do, as I was unable
to obtain a situation either as companion or
governess. Then I remembered Ellen Gilmar — a
relative of my father's, who I knew was living a
quiet life in this place on the money left to her
by Laura Kirkstone. I wrote to her and explained
my position ; and, as she no doubt found life here
extremely dull, she asked me to stay with her as a
companion, but without a salary. The offer did not
attract me greatly, nor did Ellen on our first inter-
view ; but I was in that unenviable position when
beggars can't be choosers, so Lwas forced to accept
her offer. I have been here for the last five years,
and on the whole I have no reason to complain of
my lot in life."
"Was Miss Gilmar kind to you ?'*
Edith shrugged her shoulders. '^ As kind as she
could be to any one. We quarrelled once or twice."
''About what?"
'* I don't see that you have any right to ask that
question," said Edith, quietly. "Still, to show you
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STRANGE BEHAVIOUR 103
how candid I am, I will answer it frankly. We
quarrelled about a certain Mr. Alder."
"What I John Alder the barrister?"
" Yes," said Miss Wedderbum, rather surprised ;
**do you know him ?"
^Not personally; but I heard about him from
Mr. Prain."
^ Mn Prain seems to have been very confidential.
However, this gentleman wished to marry me, and
Miss Gilmar thought that I ought to accept him,
as he was the heir to the Kirkstone estates and also
because she intended to leave him her money."
•* Without a provision for you ? "
•* Oh," said Miss Wedderburn, indifferently, " EUen
was not bound to leave me her money, seeing that
she had provided me with free board and lodging.
But she advised me to marry Mn Alder, and so
make certain of being comfortable for life. But I
did not like him, so I refused to become his wife.
Now I suppose he will turn me out-of-doors."
" Would he be so cruel ? " said Gebb, with a glance
at her handsome, haughty face.
** He might, and he might not He is much liked
by his friends, and, I suppose, has as much charity
as most people ; but whatever he decides, I can't
stay on here, now that he is the master. Does he
know that his cousin is dead ? "
" I can't say. I don't think so ; unless, like myself
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104 THE LADY FROM NOWHERE
and Prain, he discovered her death through the news-
paper descriptions of the Yellow Boudoir/'
" Hell find out soon, I've no doubt,** said Edith,
''and come down to offer me a choice of being his
wife or leaving the Hall. I shall certainly go. But
to continue my story. I remained with Miss Gilmar,
and got on fairly well with her. She told me all
about the murder, and her fears of being killed by
Dean. Often she congratulated herself that he was
in prison."
''And what did':sibe do when she heard of his
escape ? "
" She was beside herself with terror ; and, thinking
he would come down here to murder her, she deter-
mined to leave the HalL She made all arrange-
ments as regards money with her solicitor, and
asked me to take charge of this place. I agreed,
and she went away over three years ago. I have
never," said Miss Wedderbum, .with emphasis, " set
tyea on her since."
"Did you know the course of her wanderings?"
"Sometimes, when she wrote to inquire if Dean
had made his appearance at the Hall, but as a rule
I heard nothing, and knew not where she was.
The last time she wrote was about six months ago,
but* she did not say then where her next resting-
place would be, and as she was not inclined to be
confidendali I did not ask questions."
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STRANGE BEHAVIOUR 105
*^ Did you know tiiat she carried about a duplicate
of this room ? "
''No, not until you told me. I never see the
newspapers down here."
^ Can you tell me why she did so ? ''
''It is hard to explain/' said Edith, with a
puzzled look. ''When Ellen was here she sat con-
stantly in this room, and seemed greatly attached to
it I do not know why, seeing that it had been
the scene of her cousin's murder. But I suppose she
wanted to keep the threats of Dean to kill her
constantly in mind, and so framed a duplicate of this
room, that she might not forget her danger and
run the risk of being lulled into a state of dangerous
security."
"That would hardly account for her strange
fancy for the room," said Gebb, shaking his head.
" I can supply no other reason," answered Edith,
reflectively. "Ellen was very eccentric, and one
could not always account for her whims."
" She was superstitious ? "
"Very! Believed in omens and fortune-tellers
and all kinds of rubbish. Yet I fancy she had not
always been so weak-minded. It was the dread
of a violent death that made her consult these
people."
" Did she ever drop any hint about the murder ? "
"She dropped no hint, as you call it," said Edithi
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ic6 THE LADY FROM NOWHERE
stiiSy, " but told me the whole story very plainly.
She quite believed that Dean was guilty."
**Yet she might have killed Kirkstone herself,"
said Gebb, after a pause.
"That is impossible. She had no reason to do so ;
and moreover if she had been guilty, she would
certainly have betrayed herself to me. It is no use
speaking ill of the dead, Mr. Gebb.'*
''Yet you cannot say that your cousin was a good
woman.'^
• Perhaps not,'* retorted Miss Wedderbum. " On
the other hand, I cannot say that she was a murderess.
Well, sir, I have told you all I know, and you see I
cannot help you in any way."
'' I am not so sure of that," replied Gebb, cooUy.
" I have not yet closed my examination."
Edith flushed and looked uneasy. ''I don't like
that word," she said in irritable tones ; ''it sounds as
though I were a criminal in the dock."
" That is a strong way of putting it, Miss Wedder-
bum. Why not compare yourself to a witness in the
witness-box ? "
" Oh, call me what you like," cried the girl, rising
impatiently, "but let us finish our conversation as
quickly as possible. I have told you about Miss
Gilmar, about this room, about Mr. Alder ; I know
nothing more."
" Nothing, Miss Wedderbum ? Think again."
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STRANGE BEHAVIOUR 107
^I tell you I know nothing," said Edith, now
crimson with rage. ^What do you mean by your
hints?"
• I mean that you have another lover/' remarked
Gebb, acting on the advice of Prain, but quite in the
dark as to what it would bring forth.
Miss Wedderbum sat down promptly again on
the couch as though her limbs refused to support
her, and the flush on her face gave place to a deadly
pallor. She shook in every limb, as though over-
come with terror.
« Arthur ! " she faltered. " You know about *'
Her voice stopped, and she fell back in a faint.
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CHAPTER XI
THE MAD GARDENER
Gebb was not easily surprised, being used by
reason of his profession to traffic in mysteries ; but
the unexpected fainting of Edith at his apparently
innocent question perplexed him beyond measure.
Of course, the girl had not told him the whole of her
history, so no doubt in the portions thus kept
back lay the explanation of her violent emotion.
Gebb, being ignorant of the cause, was amazed at
the result
** Hullo i '' said he, throwing open the window to
admit fresh air, *' there is something queer about this.
Prain hinted that if I asked about her lover I
might hear something strange, and her actions speak
quite as loud as words. This fainting has some mean-
ing in it Well, well I I must revive her first and
question her afterwards."
This was easier said than done, as there was no
restorative of any sort at hand. Miss Wedderbum
lay back on the couch motionless and white, the
image of death; even the breeze from the open
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THE MAD GARDENER 109
window could not restore her senses. Gebb was
about to throw wide open the door, and shout for
assistance, when through the window he caught sight
of a man crossing the lawn, and immediately hailed
him loudly. The man jumped round suddenly as
though startled by the call, and after some hesitation
moved forward slowly and unwillingly to crane his
head into the room. He was a queer old creature,
with shaggy white hair and untrimmed beard, and
two glittering eyes set so closely together as to give
him an uncanny look. He was dressed in a suit of
old clothes discoloured and rusty ; and, with his elbows
on the window-sill, moped and mowed in a smiling
vacant way at the detective. At the first near glance
Gebb saw that the newcomer was not in his right
mind.
" Here, my man/' he said, making the best of this
doubtful assistant, "bring some water; the lady has
fainted.''
The man grinned, and turned his eyes towards
the white face of Edith. Over his own a shade
passed, with the result of altering it from gay to
grave. He even looked terrified, and with a kind
of hoarse cry, pointed one lean finger at the
unconscious girl
'< Is she dead ? Did you kill her ? " he asked in a
harsh whisper.
" No I No 1 1 " replied the detective, soothingly, as
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no THE LADY FROM NOWHERE
he would speak to a child, ** she has fainted Bring
some water/'
•Kill her I" whispered the man, nodding; •'ifs a
good room to kill people in; we use it for that
here. I won't telL I'd rather see her dead than
alive ; it's better for her. The grave's the bed for a
weary head."
** Hush I Bring the water/' cried Gebb, shrinking
back from the horrible creature. ** Be off with you I "
The madman shrank back in his turn at the
peremptory tone of the detective, and vanished with
a nod, just as a sigh sounded through the room. The
cool draught playing on the forehead of Edith had at
length produced its effect, and with a second sigh
longer than the first, she opened her eyes, and looked
vacantly at Gebb. The detective caught her hand,
and slapped it vigorously, whereat the girl sat up with
an effort, and her faintness passed away. Still her
brain was not quite clear, and she looked languidly
at Gebb, as though she were in a dream.
"What did you say ?" she asked in a low voice.
"Am I — ^have I — what is it ?" and she passed a slow
hand across her forehead.
''You fainted, Miss Wedderbum," replied Gebb,
softly.
"Yes! I remember I I fainted! You asked
about Oh, God ! I know ;" and she covered her
eyes with one hand.
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THE MAD GARDENER in
Before she could speak again, a harsh, cracked
voice was heard singing in the distance : —
''The rayen ii the fowl for me,
He sits apon the gaHows tree,
And Ym.yt\jf braydy doth he sin^
In a yoice so low and rich :
While flanntiDg in a garb of pitch
The murderer's corpse does gaily swing.
Hoi Hoi Hal Ha! HelHelHel
The raren and the gallows tree.**
« i
'Ah!" Miss Wedderbum shivered nervously as
this gruesome ditty sounded nearer, and put her
fingers in her ears to shut out the singing. ^It is
Martin with his fearful songs I " said she, softly.
^Martin! And who is Martin?" asked Gebb,
amazed at these extraordinary proceedings.
''Martini Martini Mad Martin!" croaked the
harsh voice ; and there at the window stood the crazy
man, leering in a fawning manner, and holding a tin
basin half full of water. Dipping his hand into this,
he sprinkled a few drops towards Edith, singing tune-
lessly the while : —
«« Weep tin tears roU as a flood,
I baptise thee now with blood."
With an exclamation of annoyance Edith rose, and,
snatching the basin out of the man's hand, shut the
window hurriedly. Martin gave a frightened whimper
and slunk away; while his mistress, soaking a hand-
kerchief in the water, bathed her pale face. Gcbb,
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iia THE LADY FROM NOWHERE
judiciously waiting the development of events, stood
quietly by, wondering, but silent
** Is this a lunatic asylum, Miss Wedderburn ? ** he
asked when she was more composed, and he judged it
judicious to recommence the conversation.
"No, of course not!'* she replied irritably; •'the
man is mad, but quite harmless. Martin ! — Martin !
— I do not know his other name. He is an excellent
gardener, and usually quiet enough, although he will
sing those gruesome songs all about gallows and
murders. To-day — ^for some reason — ^he is worse
than usual."
" He ought to be placed under restraint," said Gebb,
carelessly, for he was too bent on questioning his
companion to be distracted by a lunatic " But this
is not to the point May I ask what caused you to
faint, Miss Wedderburn ? "
The girl raised her head and directed a steady
stare at Gebb. "In my turn, may I ask why you
come here to question me ? " she said defiantly.
" I thought I explained my errand before," replied
the detective, mildly. * I am here to learn — ^if possible
— ^who killed Miss Gilmar."
" I cannot tell you : I know nothing about it
Until you gave me the news I ^as not aware even
that she was dead."
" Yet you were not so surprised by the information
as I expected."
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THE MAD GARDENER 113
**That can be easily explained, Mr. Gebb/* said
Edith, wringing out her wet handkerchief. ^ As I told
you before, I knew of my cousin's fears* She was
perhaps pursued by Mr. Dean when he escaped from
prison, with the avowed intention — it was reported —
of killing her. She left her home — as I know — in
order to hide from him ; but it is possible — I say,"
she added with emphasis, ''it is possible that Dean
tracked her down and revenged himself for her con-
duct of twenty years ago. You wish to learn who
killed Miss Gilmar, sir? I tell you I do not know I
Mr. Dean, in my opinion, is innocent ; but on the face
of it, I admit that appearances are against him. Per-
haps if you find the man and question him you may
arrive at the truth."
" It is not improbable," replied Gebb, coolly ; ** but
we must catch him first Still, Miss Wedderburn,
your opinion of Dean's guilt or Innocence does not
explain your recent conduct. To put a plain question,
miss, * What made you faint ? ' "
'*That is my business!" said Edith, haughtily, but
with averted eyes.
*And mine too. Why should you faint because
I ask if you have another lover besides Mr.
Alder?"
" I refuse to answer !"
*In that case," observed Gebb, artfully, "there
must be something wrong with Arthur."
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114 THE LADY FROM NOWHERE
"How dare you call him Arthur?" flashed out
Miss Wedderbum.
" Call who Arthur ?" asked Gebb, laying a trap for
her hasty tongue.
" Mr. Fer *' She stopped and bit her lip, hesita-
ting, as it would appear, whether to tell the name or
not After a momentary pause she evidently deemed
bold speaking the safest policy, for she continued
calmly : " After all, there is no reason why I should
not tell you his name."
" None in the world, so far as I can see," answered
the detective, with a shrug. " I know that his Christian
name is Arthur, but what is the surname of your lover,
Miss Wedderbum?"
" How do you know that I have a lover ? " retorted
Edith, answering one question by asking another.
" How do I know Aat you have two lovers ? "
corrected Gebb, coolly. * Because you told me about
one named Mr. John Alder, and Mr. Prain spoke to
me about the other. I came here with a certain
amount of knowledge, miss."
" Mr. Prain ? What has he to do with it ? "
" I don't know. I'm waiting for you to tell me.**
Edith clasped her hands together with a restless
movement, and walked up and down the room hastily.
Suddenly, as though making up her mind to the
inevitable, she stopped before the detective.
**Jlr. Gebb," she said, clearly and distinctly, **|
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THE MAD GARDENER 115
have no reason to conceal anything in my life. I am
engaged to a gentleman named Arthur Ferris, whose
occupation is that of an artist He has nothing
to do with the murder of Miss Gilmar — that I swear."
*' There is no need to swear," said Gebb, wondering
at her vehemence; "but why did you faint when I
asked you about him ? ''
"I thought — I thought you might suspect him,"
faltered Miss Wedderbum, in a low tone. * I know
how suspicious you detectives are. You seem to
think that I know more than I tell you ; but you are
wrong — I do not."
" I suspect neither you nor Mr. Ferris," said Gebb,
quietly ; "but it was so strange that you should faint
at a simple question, that I naturally wished to find
out the reason."
* Well, sir, you know it now."
"I know the reason you choose to give," replied
Gebb, significantly, " but you will excuse my saying
that it is rather a weak one."
" I can give no other."
" You could if you wished."
** Then I refuse to give any other," rejoined Edith,
with a frown.
"Quite so," replied Gebb, rising. "Well, Aere is
nothing for it but for me to take my leave — for the
present," he added significantly.
^lus sudden cessation of Qebb's questions alarmed
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ii6 THE LADY FROM NOWHERE
Edith more than the questions themselves had don^
and she looked uneasy. Once or twice she appeared
about to speak, but closed her lips again without a
word, and conducted Gebb silently out of the house.
The detective was rather annoyed by this self-control,
as the sole reason of his manoeuvre was to make Miss
Wedderburn talk. Nine women out of ten would
have done so^ and have defended themselves with
many words ; but this girl was evidently the tenth,
and knew the value of silence. However, Gebb was
too experienced to show his annoyance, and, mentally
resolving to question this Sphinx on a future occa-
sion, when she was not so much on her guard, he
took his leave with a last warning.
'*You ought to have that mad gardener locked
up," he said, looking up to Miss Wedderburn as she
stood on the terrace, ''else there will be another
murder in the Yellow Boudoir."
"Oh, Martin is quite harmless," replied Edith,
calmly. " I told you so before."
'' So harmless, tiiat had he lived in Grangebury I
should have suspected him of killing your cousin,**
responded Gebb, dryly, and forthwith took his de-
parture, considerably puzzled, as well he might be,
by the attitude of the young lady. So far she had
baffled him completely.
As he walked down the neglected avenue he heard
the harsh, cracked voice of Mad Martin piping a
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THE MAD GARDENER 117
tuneless ditty, and shortly afterwards met with the
man himself face to face. With his lean, bent
form, picturesque rags, and venerable white beard,
the man looked like Lear, insane and wretched.
When he saw Gebb, the creature stopped singing,
and broke into a cackling laugh, which had little
mirth in it Gebb — usually self-controlled and care-
less of impressions — shuddered at that merriment
of helL
"Are you in love with her too?" he asked the
detective.
•* No," replied Gebb, humouring the maa " Why
do you think so ? "
"John Alder came here and loved her," said Martin,
reflectively. "Arthur Ferris came and loved her. I
thought you might be a third But you won't win
her heart — oh no! Young Arthur has done that.
Tall, straight, dark, handsome Arthur, with the mark
of Satan on his cheek."
" The mark of Satan ! " repeated Gebb, puzzled by
this description of Ferris.
" Hist ! " cried Martin, with uplifted finger. " He
is a wizard and she a witch, and they dance in
the Yellow Room when the moon is up. Young
Arthur has a red mark on his cheek; Satan
baptized him there with blood. Oh, blood! oh,
blood!" moaned the wretched creature, "nothing
but blood.
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Ii8 THE LADY FROM NOWHERE
'"A knife for you, and a rope for me,
And death in the Yellow Room ;
I am alive, and you are dead,
But each hath gotten a tomb.' **
And with a long, dolorous cry Martin ran up the
avenue swinging his arms, leaving Gebb to puzzle out
his enigmatic verse as best he could.
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CHAPTER XII
THE DIAMOND NECKLACE
Gebb, much to his disgust, returned to Norminster
as wise as he had left it Beyond meeting a lunatic,
and interviewing an obstinate young woman, he had
spent his time and money to little purpose ; and it
was with a perplexed brain that he sat down to con-
sider his future movements. In the face of his failure
he was at a loss how to act Miss Wedderbum, with
what looked like deliberate intention, only repeated
the story he already knew.
Miss Gilmar had confessed to a fear of Dean. She
had fled from the Hall on account of that fear ; her
travels and hidings and extraordinary precautions
had been undertaken solely to thwart the revenge of
Dean. Gebb was aware of these fadts; but there
was nothing more in them likely to instruct him.
He had, so far, exhausted their capabilities.
"What am I to do?" he asked himself for, say,
the fiftieth time. "How am I to act? In which
direction am I to move ? Miss Wedderburn, without
any given reason, says that Dean is innocent Prain
119
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120 THE LADY FROM NOWHERE
is of the same way of thinking, and so am I. Parg^e
alone seems to believe in Dean's guilty and I don't
agree with him. The man himself may be able to
supply evidence to reveal the truth ; but where is he
to be found ? "
Gebb could answer this question no more than he
could the others he propounded, and vainly racked
his usually inventive brain to settle on some course
likely to elucidate the mystery. Finally, after mature
reflection, he resolved to call upon Prain, and ask
him to explain the meaning of Miss Weddcrburn's
fainting. The lawyer had told him to ask a certain
question, and see what answer it would bring. Well,
he had done so ; and the answer was that the girl,
without any apparent cause, had fainted. Perhaps
Prain knew the reason ; and since Edith refused to
reveal it, his sole course was to question the solicitor*
So to Prain the detective went, full of curiosity, two
days after his return from the country. The interval
had been filled up in attending to business uncon-
nected with the Grangebury mystery ; but now Gebb
returned to it again, and sought Mr. Prain in the
hope of learning something tangible. But his spirits
were very low.
"Well, Mr. Gebb," said brisk Mr. Prain, after greet-
ings had passed, " I have not been idle since I saw
you last I have sent a description of that necklace
to the police. I have informed Mr. Alder of Miss
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THE DIAMOND NECKLACE I2i
■Gilmar^s death, and I have received bis instructions
about the will"
"There is a will, then?"
** Without doubt. Miss Gilmar made her will before
she left the Hall."
" In favour of Mr. Alder ? " said Gebb.
"Yes. Of course, by the will of Kirkstone*s
ancestor Mr. Alder becomes possessed of the Hall ;
but Miss Gilmar has left her personal property — that
is, the money which she inherited from Laura Kirk-
stone — to him also. Miss Wedderbum, I am sorry
to say, receives nothing."
" Poor girl. She will have to leave the Hall."
Prain shrugged his shoulders. ** That is at her own
discretion," he said, coolly. " Mr. Alder is in love with
her; so if she marries him "
"She won't marry him," interrupted Gebb ; "she is
in love with, and engaged to, Mr. Ferris."
" Ah ! she told you about that scamp ? **
She told me very little, Mr. Prain ; but she fainted
when I mentioned the man under the very general
description of a lover."
" She fainted ! Hum ! " Prain looked so serious
and perplexed that Gebb was impelled to question
him further touching the matter.
"Why did she faint? " asked the detective, bluntly.
I don't know — that is, I can't exactly say,"
stammered the other.
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122 THE LADY FROM NOWHERE
Gebb looked at the solicitor^ who in his turn stared
at the carpet, the ceiling, at the papers on his desk ;
anywhere but at his questioner.
"Mr. Prain," he said seriously, "you are not treat-
ing me fairly.**
" I beg your pardon/* said Prain, nervously — ^and
as a rule he was not a nervous man, ** I don't see how
you make that out'*
"I do!" replied Gebb, sharply. "You know the
reason of that fainting.**
" Perhaps I do ; but I am not at liberty to reveal
my knowledge. The secret is Miss Wedderbum's.'*
'* Has it anything to do with this murder ? "
" No,'* replied Prain, decisively. "That it has not"
" Then why did you tell me to ask her about
Ferris?'*
"Because I wanted to be sure of something; and
that fainting has enlightened me."
" Can't you tell me more ? " cried Gebb, with some
indignation.
"No, I cannot," answered Prain, bluntly. "(Jet
Miss Wedderbum's permission, and I will. But even
if you did know, the knowledge would be of no use
to you."
"Has Miss Wedderburn any theory about this
murder ? "
" Not that I know of. You saw her last, Mr. Gebb.*'
" Does she know who killed Miss Gilmar ? "
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THE DIAMOND NECKLACE 123
"Why not ask her?" said Prain, evading the
question.
" I did ; and I can't make out what she means.
She says that Dean is innocent, but won't give her
reasoa Now, Parge declares that Dean is guilty."
" Well, Mr, Gebb, perhaps he is,"
" Indeed ! " sneered Gebb, who was growing irri-
tated. ''Last time I saw you, Mr. Prain, you denied
his guilt."
"And I do so now!" cried Prain, warmly. "I
believe, as you do, Gebb, that Dean is innocent of
both crimes. He killed neither Kirkstone nor Miss
Gilmar. I don't know what Miss Wedderbum's
reasons are, but she is right to defend Dean. Still,"
added Prain with a shrug, " I don't deny that many
people look on the man as a murderer."
•'Does Mr. Alder believe in Dean's guilt — in his
double guilt?"
'•Yes. He is sure of it You can ask him for
yourself," added Prain, looking at his watch. •• He'll
be here soon."
••I'll be glad to meet him. But what is your
opinion about this crime ? "
" I told you the last time I saw you," replied the
solicitor. "Miss Gilmar was murdered by one of
those fortune-tellers for the sake of her diamonds.
Recover that necklace, and you will soon trace the
assassin."
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124 THE LADY FROM NOWHERE
** It's not much of an idea," said Gebb, scornfully.
''It's the best IVe got, at all events!" retorted
Prain, with heat " I have done my best to prove its
truth by sending a description of that necklace to
the police."
" I dare say the description is in the hands of all
pawnbrokers by this time," said Gebb, thoughtfully.
"Well, we shall see what will come of it What
about Ferris ? "
" Ferris ! " repeated Prain, in no wise astonished at
this abrupt question. ** Well, he is an artist, and a
bit of a scamp, with whom Edith Wedderburn is in
love. I don't know why ; perhaps because he is a
scamp. Women seem to like scamps, for some reason
best known to themselves."
" Is he handsome ? "
** Very. Tall and dark ; rather military-looking."
" Has he a mark on one cheek ? "
"Yes, a birth-mark ; but not disfiguring. How did
you know about it ? "
"That lunatic at Kirkstone Hall told me. He
called it the mark of Satan. By the way, who is
that man ? "
" A gardener who used to live at the Hall in Kirk-
stone's time. I think the tragedy of the Yellow Room
must have sent him off his head. At all events, he
ran away after it occurred, and only turned up a year
or two ago, quite mad,"
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THE DIAMOND NECKLACE 125
*' Why didn't they lock him up ? "
" Well, you see, Miss Wedderburn (who is rather a
strong-minded young woman) thinks kindness may
cure him; so she gave him back his old post of
gardener. If Miss Gilmar had been there, I don't tiiink
he would have been allowed to stay. I don't think,
either, that Miss W.'s experiment will be a success."
*" He sings the most gruesome songs — about murder,
and blood, and the Yellow Room."
"I know," replied Prain, cheerfully. "I am
afraid that last muddled his brain and inspired his
muse. He didn't sing or compose verse when I
knew him ; but the man's a complete wreck. He
used to be rather handsome and stupid ; but his
own father wouldn't know him now. I'm sorry for
the poor devil, as now that Alder owns the Hall I
dare say hell be kicked out, and have to end his
days in an asylum."
"The best place for him, in my opinion/* said
Gebb, emphatically. ''He is as mad as a March
hare, and not half so harmless. Hullo! Who is
that knocking ? Come in."
It proved to be a note from Inspector Lackland,
asking Gebb to come down to Grangebury. In the
first instance it had gone to Scotland Yard, and,
as it seemed important, had been sent on to the
detective, who had left word that he would be at
Prain s, in case he was wanted.
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126 THE LADY FROM NOWHERE
* Seems important," said Gebb, reading it *I
wonder what Lackland wants to see me about— eh,
Prain ? "
But Prain was not attending to him. He was
busy shaking hands with a tall, broad-shouldered
man, fair-haired, blue-eyed, and altogether comely
to look upon. This gentleman was introduced to
Gebb by the name of Alder ; whereby the detective
was informed that he stood in the presence of Miss
Gilmar's heir and Miss Wedderbum's lover. Alder
on hearing Gebb's name looked at him keenly, and
saluted him with marked cordiality.
'' I am glad to meet you, Mr. Gebb," he said, in
loud and hearty tones ; indeed, he was rather like
a fox-hunting squire than a barrister. "" How are
you getting on with the case of my poor cousin's
murder ? Have you caught Dean ? "
"No," answered Gebb, plainly; "and, to tell you
the truth, I am not sure that Dean is the culprit"
"But if you knew what Dean said about "
^ I know all that Dean said," interrupted Gebb,
"also that he escaped; but, for all that, I do not
think he killed Miss Gilmar — or Kirkstone either,
for the matter of that"
"Hum I" said Alder, thoughtfully. •• I see you
are of Basson's opinion."
"Mr. Clement Basson! Do you know him?"
lucked the detectiya
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THE DIAMOND NECKLACE 127
^'I should think sol" replied Alder, smiling.
"I have known him for years. He was Dean's
counsel in the Kirkstone case."
"I instructed him/' said Prain, complacently.
"He believed in Dean's innocence as I did; but
unfortunately our united efforts could not get the
poor devil off."
"I think 111 call on Mr. Basson," said the de-
tective, thoughtfully. " Where is he to be found ? "
''Na 40, Blackstone Lane, Fleet Street," replied
Alder promptly ; "but what do you expect to learn
from him ? "
** His reasons for believing Dean not guilty."
"They are the same as mine," cried Prain,
"and I don't know how his stating them over
again can help you. He does not know where
Dean is."
" Still Mr. Gebb had better see Basson," suggested
Alder, with conviction. "Something may come of
the visit. Will you call on me afterwards, Mr. Gebb,
and tell me what you learn from Basson ? I am to
be found in the Temple, and, as you may guess,
I am most anxious that Dean should be traced
I intend to offer a reward of two hundred pounds for
his capture. I hope you will cam it"
" I hope so, too," answered Gebb, much pleased ;
"but you are certain that Dean is guilty ? "
•^ Jf he is not, I don't l^now who is," replied Alder,
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I2S THE LADY FROM NOWHERE
emphatically ; and for the time being the conversation
ended.
Gebb left Alder to consult with Prain as to the
necessity of exhuming the body of Miss Gilmar for
identification, and took his way down to Grange-
bury to learn why the bluff Lackland had written
so earnest and urgent a note. He found the plethoric
inspector in a state of excitement bordering on
apoplexy, and wondered what could have occurred
to stimulate the martinet to such unusual excitement
" That you, Gebb ? " cried Lackland, the moment
the detective put his nose inside the door. " George I
I am glad to see you. It's found, sir — found i What
do you think of that, hey ? "
" What is found ? the name of the murderer ? "
** No, no ; but something as useful. The diamond
necklace," said Lackland, slowly.
"You don't say so I " cried Gebb, excitedly. " Was
it sold — pawned ?"
" Pawned I '* interrupted the inspector. * Aaron
and Nathan's, Harold Street, City. It came into
their possession the day after the murder.'*
" The devil 1 Our assassinating friend lost no time.
Who pawned it ? "
"A young man who called himself James Brown."
"James Fiddlesticks," said Gebb, contemptuously
— *' a false name. What was he like ? "
"Tall, dark, handsome," said Lackland, with
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THE DIAMOND NECKLACE 129
military brevity. "Aaron said that he put the
necklace up the spout as cool as a cucumber. He
" Hold on I '' cried Gebb, eagerly. Had he a mark
on one cheek — a birth-mark ? "
"By George, he hadl A purple spot; but not
large enough to spoil his looks.''
** I thought so ! " said the detective, joyously. " So
it was Arthur Ferris did it"
** Arthur who ? " asked Lackland, gruffly.
* Arthur Ferris, of Chelsea, artist He pawned the
necklace; he stole the diamonds ; he murdered Miss
Gilmar. Hurrah I we've got him.'*
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CHAPTER XIII
ARTHUR FERRIS
The unexpected discovery that Ferris had pawned
the necklace, spurred Gebb to unusual activity. No
longer doubtful how to act, he hastened to procure a
warrant of arrest against the young man ; yet before
doing so, and to be certain that his belief was not a
false one, he called first at Aaron and Nathan's.
These worthy Jews he questioned closely concerning
the necklace, and the man who had pawned it. The
ornament corresponded in every way with the de-
scription furnished by Prain ; and the individual, on the
evidence of his appearance, and of the birth-mark on
his right cheek, could not be mistaken for any one but
Ferris. Furthermore, his connection with Edith, who
in her turn was connected with the murdered woman^
gave colour to Gebb's assumption that Ferris was the
guilty person.
" I understand now why Miss Wedderbum fainted,"
said Gebb to himself. '' She thought, when I men-
tioned him as her lover, that I had discovered the truth,
and feared for his safety. No doubt, having informed
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ARTHUR FERRIS 131
him about that necklace, and Miss Gilmar s fear of
death, he killed and robbed the woman in the hope
that Dean would be blamed"
If things were as Gebb surmised, Ferris, in hoping
that his crime would be laid to the charge of Dean,
displayed an amount of cunning hardly compatible
with his disposal of the plunder. He had accomplished
the crime so cleverly, and had escaped so mysteriously,
that Gebb could not understand why he had pawned
the necklace so openly, the very next day, under the
obviously false name of James Brown. The rashness
nullified his former caution, for he might have guessed
that information concerning the jewels would be sent
to all pawnshops. As a criminal^ Ferris evidently
had to learn the A.B.C. of his craft.
** Why did he not wait until the storm blew over
before pawning the necklace,*' murmured Gebb, much
perplexed, "or, at least, take the stones out of their
setting and sell them separately, either in London,
Paris, or Amsterdam ? Discovery would have been
more difficult in that case. And why did he pawn
them so hurriedly unless he intended to leave Eng-
land? But in that case Edith Wedderburn would
have known of his intended departure, and probably
would have gone with him. Rum sort of cove he
must be."
Gebb in this manner argued the case for and
against Ferris, for the young man's conduct displayed
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132 THE LADY FROM NOWHERE
such a mixture of caution and rashness as to perplex
the detective. Still it was no use, as he well knew, to
waste his time in making bricks without straw, when
the arrest of the culprit might enable him to gain a
frank explanation of these obviously silly actions ; so
Gebb, on the evidence of the pawning, procured a
warrant and proceeded to take Ferris in charge. As
a further mark of the man's folly, he had given a
wrong name but a right address ; and Gebb, proceed-
ing to Chelsea, asked at an Eden Street house for Mr.
Brown, only to be told that Mr. Ferris was the sole
lodger in it The naive simplicity of this novice in
crime almost made the detective swear to his innocence
on the spot
•'Confound it!" said Gebb, disconcerted by this,
" the man has gone about the pawning so openly that
I really believe he is guiltless of the crime. Either
that or he*s a born fool, although even that is doubtful
Miss Wedderburn is not the sort of woman to love
an idiot, although she does protect one. Seems to
me as I'm dealing with a lot of crazy folk."
Ferris chanced to be absent at the time of Gebb*s
visit, but was expected back every moment ; so, on
intimating that he wished to see the artist on a matter
of importance, and would wait for his return, the
detective was shown into the studio. It was a bare
apartment of some size, with ample light, but few
decorations. Ferris seemed to be rather a hard
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ARTHUR FERRIS 133
worker than an artistic dandy, for there were scattered
around none of the knickknacks and "bibelots"
which many painters love to collect There was a
sprawling lay-figure near a carpeted dais for the
model, specimens of work on the walls, plaster heads
and unfinished pictures lying about in disorder, and
on the easel, beside a rusty iron stove, a landscape
picture in progress of painting. Altogether the studio
looked anything but that of a Sybarite, and in no wise
accorded with Prain*s description of Ferris as a scamp,
for scamps as a rule owe their doubtful reputations to
their assiduity in gratifying all their tastes, the best
and the worst
* Yet he must have been hard pushed for money
to murder that old woman in order to rob her," said
Gebb. " So, if he is economical here, I expect he is
wasteful in other ways. Hullo ! here's a letter on
the writing-table with the Norminster postmark.
Empty I" he added in disgust, finding no letter in-
side. " Yet it is from that girl, I am certain. The
handwriting is that of a woman. Hum 1 And yester-
day's date, I see by the postmark. She had been
writing to warn him. She knows all about the matter.
I wish I could find the letter. She's a deep one, that
girl, and as sharp as a needle. She wouldn't have
bungled the murder as Ferris has done."
With this doubtful tribute of admiration, Gebb
calmly proceeded to turn over the papers on the
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134 THE LADY FROM NOWHERE
writing-table, and examine the drawers. But he
could And no letter from Edith amongst the loose
papers, and the drawers proved to be locked, which
showed tl^at Ferris was a more cautious man than
his conduct in pawning the necklace indicated How
far Gebb would have proceeded with his search, or
how successful he would have been, it is hard to say ;
for just as he was casting his eyes towards a bureau
which, he thought, might contain papers likely to
illuminate Ferris and his dark ways, the door opened
and the man himself entered with a brisk step. He
appeared agitated and rather pale, but on the whole
composed and business-like.
For ^ moment or so he did not speak, but looked
at Gebb with no very friendly expression of counte-
nance. On his side, the detective scrutinized the
face of the newcomer with close attention, to see in
what degree he corresponded to the descriptions of
Prain and Martin. He beheld a tall and slender man,
with an intelligent expression and brilliant black
eyes. On his short upper lip there was a small
pointed moustache, which gave him a rather military
appearance, and on his right cheek a purple mark,
the size of a sixpence, but which — his skin being so
dark— did not show very conspicuously. He was
dressed quietly and in good style, and to all appear-
ance was a man who respected himself too much to
indulge in the profligacy with which he was credited
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ARTHUR FERRIS 135
by Prain. Gcbb was rather favourably impressed by
him than otherwise, and could not help regretting his
errand.
" I am told you are waiting to see me," said Ferris,
civilly. ** May I inquire your business ? **
•* Is your name Arthur Ferris ? '*
•• It is. May I ask what "
" I arrest you in the Queen's name I " interrupted
Gebb, laying one hand on the young man's shoulder,
and with the other drawing forth his warrant.
Ferris turned white even to the lips, and leaped
back with an exclamation of alarm and surprise. The
detective's action seemed to amaze him.
"Arrest me! Why? What for? Who are you?"
" My name is Gebb ; I am a detective. Here is my
warrant for your arres^ Mr. Ferris, on a charge of
murder."
•* Murder I " repeated Ferris, much agitated, as was
natural. " You accuse me of murder ? There is some
mistake"
"People in your position always say so," replied
Gebb, dryly ; ** but there is no mistake. You murdered
a woman called Gilmar on the twenty-fourth of July
last"
"It's a lie! I no more murdered Miss Gilmar than
you did."
"That has yet to be proved, sir. Here is my
warrant, and I have a couple of men outside in case
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136 THE LADY FROM NOWHERE
of need. Howeveri I have no desire to make trouble,
and if you come along with me quietlyi I shall «use
you civilly. We can drive to the prison in a hansom."
Ferris, who was looking round wildly, as though
for some means of escape, started and recoiled at the
sound of the ill-omened word.
" To prison ! " he echoed hoarsely. *• Great God I
you would not take me to prison. I am innocent,
I tell you. I know nothing of this murder."
**We have evidence to the contrary," said Gebb,
quietly ; " and I advise you, sir, to hold your tongue.
Anything you say now will be used in evidence
against you."
"I shall not hold my tongue," said Ferris, with
more composure. ** There is nothing I can say likely
to inculpate me in the matter. I protest against your
action. I protest against being treated as a criminaL"
*' You can protest as much as you like, Mr. Ferris,
but you must come with me. You may thank your
stars that I have not put the darbies on you. Give
me your word not to attempt escape, and we'll walk out
arm-in-arm ; no one will guess where you are going.
You see, I wish to make matters easy for you."
** I shall not try to escape," said the unfortunate
young man, proudly, ''as I have done nothing wrong.
If I must go to prison on this charge, I must ; and I
thank you, Mr. Gebb, for your civility, but I swear
before God that I am innocent of this crime."
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ARTHUR FERRIS 137
With this speech he resumed his hat and walked
slowly out of the studio. Gebb followed forthwith,
and slipped his arm within that of Ferris, so that the
pair seemed to be leaving the house in a friendly way.
Two men were waiting at a distance, but on Gebb's
nodding to them to intimate that his charge was
amenable to reason, they walked off; and shortly
afterwards the detective and Ferris got into a
hansom. Gebb directed the driver whither to go,
and then turned to comfort his companion, for whose
despair he felt extremely sorry. Certainly, the young
man's conduct did not suggest guilt
" Cheer up^ Mr. Ferris," he said kindly ; " if you are
innocent you will soon be out of this trouble."
" I don't know how ever I came into it," replied
Ferris, disconsolately. ^ You mean kindly, Mr. Gebb ;
therefore, in spite of what you say regarding my
remarks being used against me, I shall speak freely.
I did not know Miss Gilmar at all I never set eyes
on her in my life ; and until yesterday I was not
aware of her death."
'^I see. Miss Wedderbum wrote and informed you
of that," said Gebb, coolly.
** What do you know of Miss Wedderbum ? " asked
Ferris, in surprise.
''I have seen her and spoken with her; and I
know from her own lips that she is engaged to you.
On your writing-table I saw an envelope with the
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138 THE LADY FROM NOWHERE
Normlnstcf postmark and yesterday's date, so I
guessed that she wrote to you about Miss Gilmar's
death,"
"She did I I have no reason to conceal it. But
she did not mention that she had conversed with
you."
"Perhaps not, Mr. Ferris. She is a young lady
who can keep her own counsel."
" She has no secrets that I know of," said Ferris,
haughtily.
Gebb shrugged his shoulders. "She has one about
you," he said calmly.
" Indeed ! " replied the other with sarcasm. " And
do you know what it is, Mr. Gebb ? ''
" I did not know when I saw her, but I know now.
Miss Wedderbum is aware that you killed Miss
Oilman"
" Did she say so ? " asked Ferris, anxiously.
" No ; but I guess that is her secret You are
guilty, you know."
" I swear I am not ! " rejoined Ferris, vehemently.
" I never saw Miss Gilmar. I did not murder her. I
know nothing about the woman."
"Do you know anything about the diamond
necklace ? "
" The diamond necklace I '* stammered Ferris,
changing colour, and with a visible start, for this
leading question evidently took him by surprise
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ARTHUR FERRIS 139
" Yes I the necklace you pawned on the twenty-fifth
of July to Aaron and Nathan."
" It — it — was — was mine," replied the young man,
as clearly as his consternation would let him.
"It was not yours," said Gebb, sharply ; " it was Miss
Gilmar's. She wore it on the night of the murder, and
it was taken from the corpse."
" I did not take it. I did not take It"
" Yet you pawned it"
"Yes, I pawned it, but I swear I did not take it"
" Then how did it come in your possession ? "
''I refuse to answer that question/' said Ferris,
sullenly.
Gebb shrugged his shoulders. "Just as you
please," he said; "but the fact of your pawning
that necklace is the cause of your arrest If you can
explain "
" I explain nothing. I intend to keep my business
to myself."
** Then you will be in danger of the gallows."
Ferris bit his lip and shuddered. ^ I am innocent,"
he said, wonderfully calm considering his position,
"but I refuse to state how I became possessed of the
necklace."
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CHAPTER XIV
A SURPRISING DISCOVERY
The next* day Ferris was brought up before the
magistrate on the charge of murdering Miss Gilmar.
He looked pale and ill, and heard the evidence of
his pawning of the necklace in absolute silence.
When he was asked to defend himself he refused to
utter a word ; he declined even to engage a solicitor ;
so in the face of this conduct there was nothing for
it but to commit him for trial. Ferris asked for bail,
but his request being refused, he was taken back to
prison, still silent. He might have been a stone
image for all the information the law got out of him ;
and every one marvelled at his obstinacy, so dangerous
to himself, so inexplicable to others.
Gebb could not understand why he acted in this
way, and risked his neck in so obstinate a manner.
Certainly Ferris declared himself to be innocent ; but
he refused to prove the truth of his words, and pre-
served an impenetrable silence which at once per*
plexed and provoked the detective. The only reason
he could conjecture for the mulish behaviout of the
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A SURPRISING DISCOVERY 141
artist was that the evidence against him was too
strong for disproval, and that he knew this to be the
case.
'' Still be might make an efTort to save himself/'
thought Gebb, as he sat meditating in his office^ '' if
only to tell a lie ; although I don't quite see what he
could say. Mrs. Presk declared that Miss Gilmar
wore her jewels on that evening, and when we found
the body those jewels were gone. The principal
jewel — which is a necklace — was pawned the day
after the murder by Arthur Ferris, who knows Miss
VVedderbum, who knew Miss Gilmar ; and he refuses
to state how the necklace came into his possession.
If he murdered the woman his possession of the
diamonds is easily accounted for : if he is innocent
he must have obtained the necklace from the assassin.
Therefore, if not guilty himself, he must know who is :
that is plain logic/'
Logic or not, the result of the argument was very
unsatisfactory, and Gebb, in his own mind, was unable
to decide either for or against Ferris. He had that
morning informed Prain by letter about the artist's
committal for trial, and asked him to call at the
prison to discover if possible the reason for the
strange conduct of Ferris. Also, he requested Prain
to call at his oiSce, and tell him the result of the
interview. So when his meditations were interrupted
by a sharp knock at the door, he quite expected to
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142 THE LADY FROM NOWHERE
see the little solicitor enter. In place of Prain, how-
ever, he beheld the burly form of John Aider, who
appeared to be different from his usual genial self.
"You are no doubt surprised to see me here, Mr.
Gebb/' he said, when the first greetings had passed,
" but I am greatly disturbed about Ferris, He is a
friend of mine, you know."
Gebb did not know about the friendship, but he
was well aware that Ferris was Alder^s favoured
rival with Edith Wedderburn, so wondered at the
tender-heartedness of the man who was distressed
over the removal of an obstacle to his wooing.
''Why are you disturbed?" asked Gebb, rather
sceptically. "What makes you worry over Ferris ? "
" Because I am sure he is innocent of this murder/'
replied Alder. "Oh, I heard all about his arrest and
committal for trial from Prain, who has gone round
to see him. So I thought I would come and tell you
that I am convinced of his innocence."
" But he pawned the necklace, Mr. Alder ; he admits
that he did."
" Then he must have obtained the necklace from
some one else."
"That may be, sir," said Gebb, quietly ; "but if he
did he refuses to say as much. And whosoever gave
him the necklace killed Miss Gilmar."
"What defence does he make?" asked Alder,
looking puzzled.
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A SURPRISING DISCOVERY 143
" None. He asserts his innocence, but refuses to
explain how he became possessed of the necklace.
If he can't explain, or won't explain, those diamonds
will hang him."
" In what way ? I don't quite see how you arrive
at that point"
" Miss Gilmar wore the necklace on the night she
was killed/' explained the detective; *'it was gone
when we found the body; so by the strongest of
circumstantial evidence the assassin must have taken
it"
"All this may be true, Mr. Gebb, but it does not
prove that poor Ferris is guilty."
**I think it does,** replied Gebb, coolly, "seeing
that he pawned the necklace in question. If he
isn't the principal, he is an accessory before the
fact"
"Won't he confess how he became possessed of
the diamonds ? "
" No, not to me. He refuses to say a word in his
own defence."
"Then I tell you what," said Alder, gravely, "this
quixotic young man is defending another person ; he
is shielding the assassin."
" If he is, that shows him to be an accessory either
before or after the fact," repeated Gebb. "But who
is the person you think he is shielding ? "
" Dean I I believe the man killed my cousin."
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144 THE LADY FROM NOWHERE
" Does Mr. Ferris know Dean ?" asked Gebb, look-
ing up sharply.
" No. Nor did he know Miss Giltnar, so far as
my knowledge goes," said Alder, with a nod. " Ferris
has been a friend of mine for many years, and although
for certain reasons we are not very intimate, I am
sure he is not guilty of this crime.**
" If Ferris did not know Dean, or does not know
him, I don't very well see how he can be shielding
him ! " cried Gebb, irritably. *' If you will excuse me
saying so, Mr. Alder, I think you are talking sheer
nonsense."
" I am sorry you think so," said Alder, stiffly. ** Of
course I only state that Ferris is not acquainted with
Dean, so far as I am aware ; but he may know him
for all that."
"Why?" asked Gebb, pertinently.
'* Because I am certain that Dean is guilty.**
"Admitting that he is — which I don't on the
strength of the romantic vow — how did Ferris
become possessed of the necklace ? "
"I don't know. Only Ferris can explain
that"
"Well, then, Mr. Alder, he won't explain. So on
the face of it he is guilty, and Dean isn't"
" I tell you he is innocent ! " said Alder, angrily,
" and my friend Mr. Basson can prove it"
"Basson — Clement Basson, the barrister?" said
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A SURPRISING DISCOVERY 145
Gebb, with a stare. "Why, what on earth has he
got to do with it?"
" He saw Ferris on the night of the murder ! "
"Saw him! Where?"
"At Grangebury ! In the evening."
"And Miss Gilmar was murdered at Grangebury/'
said the detective. "Why, that looks as though
Ferris was guilty. Your evidence rather condemns
than exonerates him."
"Not at all," rejoined Alder, tartly. " I read the
evidence of the murder in the daily papers, although
I did not know at the time that Miss Ligram was my
cousin, Ellen Gilmar."
"Well. What of that?" inquired Gebb, rather
puzzled by the irrelevancy of this remark.
"This much. Mrs. Presk and her servant were
at a lecture on Dickens in the Grangebury Town
Hall."
"I know that"
"Well, Mr. Gebb, that lecture was given by
Basson ! "
" By Clement Basson, the barrister, who defended
Dean twenty years ago ? "
"The samel You must know that Basson is a
friend of mine," continued Alder, conversationally,
"and a barrister, like myself. He is by no means
well off, as he is fonder of play than of work. I
suggested to him that he should write and deliver a
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146 THE LADY FROM NOWHERE
few lectures in order to make money, for he has a
fine voice and is an excellent orator. He adopted
my suggestion and wrote a lecture on Dickens ; but
being nervous, he wished to make an experiment in
the suburbs, before attempting to interest a London
audience. I suggested that he should deliver it in
the Grangebury Town Hall, as I know many people
in that suburb. He consented, and delivered the
lecture on the twenty-fourtli of July, that is, on the
very night my cousin was murdered."
"And Mrs. Presk attended the lecture with her
servant," reflected Gebb. *' Did you know that Miss
Gilmar was in Grangebury ? "
** I ! No ! She took lodgings in Paradise Row
under the name of Ligram, you know," said Alder.
*'I had not set eyes on her for years — in fact, not
since she left Kirkstone Hall. Out of terror lest she
should be killed by Dean, she kept her address secret
from all, although I believe she occasionally wrote to
Miss Wedderbum on business."
"I know," replied Gebb, with a nod. "But
Miss Wedderbum had not heard from your cousin
since six months before the murder ; so she was not
aware of Miss Ligram's — or rather Miss Gilmar*s —
presence in Grangebury. But what has the lecture
to do with Ferris and his innocence ? "
"I'm coming to that," said Alder, quietly. "As I
had suggested the lecture to Basson, I wished him to
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A SURPRISING DISCOVERY 147
have a lai^e audience, so I asked my friends in
Grangebury to attend ; also I invited some London
acquaintances, amongst them Ferris,"
" Did Ferris go to the lecture ? "
"Yes. I saw him myself at the door, when I spoke
a few words to him. He sat in a front row, and
Basson — ^who knows him — told me that he stayed
almost to the end of the lecture.**
"Oh," said Gebb, meaningly. "Almost to the
end!"
•'Well, at all events, he stayed until ten o'clock,"
replied Alder, rather nettled "And as my cousin
was killed about that time, Ferris could not have
murdered her."
** No ! Certainly not So far as I can see, Ferris
can prove an alibL If so, why does he not defend
himself in that way ? "
Alder shrugged his shoulders. * I can't say ; unless
he is shielding some one. I suggest Dean, as I really
believe that Dean is guilty ; but then— so far as I
know — Ferris is not acquainted with Dean. Nor is
anybody, for the man has not been heard of since
he escaped from prison. But you see, Mr. Gebb,
that if my cousin was murdered at ten o'clock — and
the medical evidence says she was — Ferris, who was
in the Grangebury Town Hall at that hour, cannot
be guilty."
"I admit that I I shall look into the matter,"
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148 THE LADY FROM NOWHERE
said Gebb, "and let me tell you, Mr. Alder, that
I think very well of you for coming forward with
this evidence, as I know that Mr. Ferris is your rival."
"With Miss Wedderbum/* said Alder, colouring.
" True enough ; but for all that I don't want him to
be hanged when I know that he is innocent If Miss
Wedderbum marries Ferris I'll just have to put up
with it, that's all."
Gebb was about to express further admiration of
Alder's conduct when the door opened unexpectedly,
and Prain came hurriedly into the room. The little
man looked worried, and with a nod to his brother
lawyer, he threw himself into a chair near the
detective's desk.
•• Well, Gebb," he said, in a vexed tone, *' I have
been to see that young ass, and I can't induce him
to speak."
" There will be no need for it," said Gebb, quietly ;
*' I know now that he is innocent, Mr. Prain."
" How is that ? " asked the solicitor, in amazement
Whereat Gebb, with the assistance of Alder, told him
of the presence of Ferris in the Town Hall at the
hour the murder was committed. Prain was more
amazed than ever. "Great Heavens ! " he said ; " if
the man is innocent, and can prove it, as you say,
why doesn't he speak out ? "
** Because he is screening some one, I think/' said
Gebb.
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A SURPRISING DISCOVERY 149
" I know he is," said Alder ; " and I believe that the
some one is Dean«"
" Why ? " asked Prain, with a sharp look.
"I believe that Dean committed the crime, Mr.
Prain."
"Yes, but you also believe that Ferris does not
know Dean," cried Gebb, crossly; "so why should
he shield him ? **
"That is a paradox," said Alder, smiling.
Prain looked up with a grave expression on his face.
" It is a paradox which I can explain,'* he said shortly.
" Ferris does know Dean."
" He does know Dean I " cried both his hearers in
amazement
" Yes ! I may as well tell you both, that Arthur
Ferris is the son of Marmaduke Dean,"
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CHAPTER XV
THE REVELATION OF MR. PRAIN
"Arthur Ferris the son of Dean I" repeated
Gebb, looking alternately at solicitor and barrister.
**Well, I never heard of such a thing. Did you
knowofit, Mr. Alder?"
Alder shook his head with unqualified amazement
*'Not I!" he said. **I suggested that Ferris was
shielding Dean, only because I am certain Dean is the
assassin ; and only the assassin could have given that
necklace taken from the dead woman to Ferris, but I
had no idea that there was any relationship or even
acquaintance between them."
« Nevertheless it is true," replied Prain, with a
nod. " I was Dean's lawyer, as you know, and he
told me much of his family history. When his wife
died, he placed his son Arthur with some of her
relatives, and went himself as a bachelor down to
the Hall, to court Laura Kirkstone for his second
wife and meet with his fate. When he was imprisoned
for the murder of Kirkstone, the relatives of Arthur
ISO
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THE REVELATION OF MR. PRAIN 151
gave him his mother's name of Ferris. I have kept
my eye on that young man all my life — or, rather,
all his life of twenty-five years, and have even assisted
him on occasions with money. He is the son of
Dean right enough, although he still keeps to the
name of Ferris."
•* Oh ! he knows who he is, then ? " said Gebb,
sharply.
" Certainly I He has known it for many years."
" Has he any idea of the whereabouts of his father ? "
questioned Alder.
" No ; he would have told me if he had, as he is
well aware that I consider his father innocent, and
would not give him up to the law even if I knew of
his hiding-place."
''Do you believe that Dean is innocent in this
instance, Mr. Prain ? "
The little man moved restlessly and evaded a
direct reply to the inquiry of Alder. "That is a
question I cannot answer," he said dubiously. "I
asked Ferris if he obtained the necklace from his
father, but he denied that he did, and added that he
was ignorant of his father's whereabouts. He declared
that he had not seen his father since he was five
years of age."
'UDh, of course he would say all that I" cried
Alder, with scorn, " in order to shield his father, as I
suggested ; although until you spoke I did not know
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152 THE LADY FROM NOWHERE
who Dean really was. The evidence against Dean
seems clear enough to me."
"In what way?" asked Gebb, anxious to hear
Alder's ground of accusation, since he appeared so
certain of Dean's guilt
"In every way," retorted the barrister. "Dean
hunted Miss Gilmar down and killed her in Paradise
Row. Being hard up, as he must be, seeing that
he is an outlaw and in hiding, he stole the jewels
she wore. He, no doubt, gave the necklace to
Ferris, as I know the young man is as poor as
a church mouse, and kept the other jewels to
himself. I don't say that Ferris knew at the time
his father had killed Miss Gilmar, but when Mr.
Gebb here stated that the necklace was taken
from her dead body, Ferris is quick enough to put
two and two together, and guess what his father
had done. He therefore holds his tongue and
refuses to say from whom he got the necklace.
A man with his life in jeopardy would not keep
silent without a strong motive, and what stronger
motive can Ferris have than one which concerns
the safety of his father? To me the affair is as
clear as day."
"Your case is very ingeniously constructed, I
admit," said Prain, dryly, " and you argue the rope
round Dean's neck in fine style. Nevertheless your
theory is — theory, and nothing more."
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THE REVELATION OF MR. PRAIN 153
** Well/* said Alder, with a shrug, " what does Mr.
Gebbsay?"
'* Mr. Gebb says nothing at present/' rejoined that
gentleman, after a moment's thought " Least said,
soonest mended. When I gather more evidence I
shall speak more freely."
" Where do you intend to look for evidence ? "
"At Kirkstone Hall. I shall ask Miss Wedderburn
why she fainted on the occasion of my mentioning
about Ferris ; although I did ask her once, and she
lied."
"I can explain that," observed Prain, quickly.
^ I said I would not do so without the young lady's
permission, but as I have been forced to te]l you
about Dean's relationship to Ferris, I may as well
reveal the rest Miss Wedderburn knows that
Arthur is the son of Dean, so when you asked her
about him, I dare say the thought struck her
that you knew of it through me, and intended to
accuse him of killing Miss Gilmar to avenge his
father. With a revulsion of feeling she fainted.
There — ^you have the explanation from my point
of view."
••That's all very well, Mr. Prain; but I wish to
have the explanation from Miss Wedderbum*s point
of view. Where is she now ? "
"StUl at the Hall," said Alder, gloomily; •'but she
intends to leave it, now that I am master there."
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154 THE LADY FROM NOWHERE
" Oh ! " said Prain, with a smile. *' She refuses to
be its mistress?"
"Yes! I don't mind confessing it She is in-
fatuated with Ferris, and when I went down the
other day to ask her for the last time to be my
wife, she refused me, and declared that she in-
tended to marry Ferris. But I don't bear him any
ill-will," said Alder, generously. "We both love
Miss Wedderbum, and she prefers him in his
poverty to me with my money. Still, I don't know
how she can bear the idea of marrying the son of
a murderer."
"Perhaps, like myself, she believes in Dean's
innocence," said Prain, dryly.
" If he is guilty of the first crime, he is guilty of
the second."
"Well," said Gebb, thoughtfully, ** there is some-
thing in that Unless Dean had been guilty of
Kirkstonc's murder, he would not have been so bent
upon punishing the woman who accused him of it,
and it is just possible he murdered her out of revenge.
However, I believe myself that Dean is innocent of
both crimes. As to the second, I shall see Ferris again,
and try to learn if he got the necklace from his father ;
as to the first," added Gebb, emphatically, " I shall
search Kirkstone Hall for Miss Gilmar's confession."
" Her confession ! " repeated Alder, surprised.
** What confession ? "
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THE REVELATION OF MR. PRAIN 155
"Ah!" said Prain, taking no notice of the
barrister's question, and addressing Gebb, "so you
are coming round to my opinion — that Miss Gilmar
killed Ku-kstonc."
^It has been my opinion for some time,** re-
joined Gebb, coolly, "and I believe that Miss
Gilmar left a confession behind her telling the truth.
I don't think she would risk its discovery by carrying
it about with her, so it is probable she wrote it out and
concealed it in some hiding-place at Kirkstone Hall."
" In that case search the Hall," said Alder, dis-
bclievingly. ** You have my full permission to do so."
*' I shall certainly avail myself of it, Mr. Alder.
So Miss Wedderbum leaves the HalL What about
her /r^/^/, Martin?"
"That lunatic! I don't know. He had better
stay where he is for the present, although I think
myself he should be locked up."
" What does Miss Wedderbum think ? "
" She says he is mad, but not dangerous, and asked
me to let him stay on at the Hall until she is settled
— with Ferris, I suppose — when she will take him
with her. A nice companion he will be to a young
married couple."
" I'm afraid that marriage won't take place for some
time," said Prain, gloomily; "even if Arthur does
escape, he's too poor to keep a wife."
•* In that case," said Alder, rising to take his leave,
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I $6 THE LADY FROM NOWHERE
" there may be a chance for me. While there is life
there's hope, you know."
Prain shook his head with a doubtful smile. " While
Arthur Ferris lives Miss Wcdderbum won't marry
you," he said positively.
Alder stopped at the door and looked back. *' See
here, Mr. Prain," he remarked earnestly, "I'm all
fair, square, and above-board. Gebb here will tell
you that before you came I defended Ferris, because
I consider him innocent But I believe that his
father killed Kirkstone and my cousin, and I am
certain that both crimes will be brought home to
him. In that case I have my doubts as to whether
a proud girl like Edith will marry the son of a
murderer. If she does not, she will accept me, of
that I am certain ; and I shall do everything to bring
such a marriage about."
" Well," said Prain, « I've known Edith all her life,
and I don't think she will marry you."
" We'll see about that," rejoined Alder, confidently,
and swung out of the door with a look of determi-
nation in his blue eyes.
Prain shook his head and shrugged his shoulders,
for he thought that the barrister was over-confident
for a lover. Then he took up his hat to go, and
addressed a last question to Gebb.
"Well, sir," said he, grimly, "and what do you
intend to do now ? "
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THE REVELATION OF MR. PRAIN 157
"Three things, Mr. Prain, and I don't mind teHing
you what they are. I intend to question both Ferris
and Miss Wedderbum, I intend to search Kirkstone
Hall for that confession of Miss Gilmar's, which I really
beh'eve exists, and I intend to call upon Mr. Clement
Basson.*'
* What about Basson — can he prove anything ? "
" He can prove an alibi in favour of Ferris," said
Gebb ; and forthwith related to Prain all that he had
been told by Alder regarding the lecture in the
Grangebury Town Hall.
Prain listened attentively, and nodded his head
approvingly, for he was pleased to find a loophole
for Arthur's escape.
"Very creditable to Alder," he said, when the
detective finished. "His conduct in speaking up
for Ferris deserves our praise. Few men would be
so generous to their rival. But if this is so, why did
not Ferris clear himself before the magistrate ? He
would be free now, had he done so."
"Well," said Gebb, thoughtfully, "so far as that
goes, we come back to Mn Alder's belief. Ferris is
shielding his father."
" If he is," said Prain, " Dean must be guilty."
" It looks like it. But I tell you what, Mr. Prain,"
cried Gebb, emphatically, "as sure as I sit here
Dean is innocent! Whosoever killed Miss Gilmar
was expected by her ; was a friend with whom she
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158 THE LADY FROM NOWHERE
was at her ease ; that is proved by the smoking and
the wine. She would not have been at ease with
Dean."
" He mig^ht have been disguised as a fortune-teller,"
suggested Prain,
" No, I don't believe it No disguise could have
hidden him from the eyes of a woman who feared
him so. Whosoever killed that woman, it wasn't
Dean."
" Then why is Ferris shielding Dean ? "
" We don't know if he is ; you, yourself, said that
he denied it"
*' I know I did ; I know he does ! " cried Frain, in
despair. " God bless my soul, what a case this is I
The more we talk about it the more confused does
it become. I tell you what, Gebb, your only chance
of arriving at the truth lies in either forcing Ferris
to confess where he got the necklace, or in hunting
down Dean."
" III try the first of your suggestions at once," said
Gebb, putting on his hat "And if Ferris won't
confess to me, 111 write and ask Miss Wcdderburn
to come to town."
*« What good can she do ?"
** She can make him confess the truth. What the
man won't do for justice he may do for love. How-
ever, I'll see him at once. Justice will make the first
attempt — Love the second."
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THE REVELATION OF MR. PRAIN 159
"And both wiU fail ! " cried Prain. *• You'd better
catch Dean, my good man."
" That's easier said than done," retorted Gebb ;
and the two parted, each more or less exasperated.
And very naturally, for the perplexities of the Grange-
bury murder case were enough to anger the mildest
natures, and those of Prain and Gebb were rather the
reverse.
Irritated and puzzled by the complexion of affairs,
Gebb did not let the grass grow under his feet, but at
once visited the prison in which Arthur Ferris was
confined. He easily obtained permission to see him
and entered to find the young man looking ill and
worn, but as firm as ever in his policy of silence,
Gebb came to the reason of his visit forthwith.
"Well, Mr. Ferris, you are a nice gentleman to
stay here, when a word from you in the Court would
clear you of all this."
" What word ? " asked Ferris, suspecting a snare,
and speaking cautiously.
* Why ! word where you were at the time of the
murder. I know you did not kill Miss Gilmar."
" How do you know that ?" asked the young man,
with a start
" Because you were fn the Grangebury Town Hall
listening to the lecture on Dickens,*' replied Gebb.
•* Mr, Alder told me."
" It is very kind of Alder to defend me," replied
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i6o THE LADY FROM NOWHERE
Ferris, frankly, "Yes, Mn Gebb, it is quite true.
I was not near Miss Gilmar on that night I am
innocent."
" Then why didn't you say so ? "
•* I did, several times."
"But why don't you produce your alibi ? *
" Because I don't choose to," retorted Ferris, slowly,
and turned sulky again.
" So you are shielding your father, after all ? '*
"Who told you about my father?" he asked
tremulously,
"Mr. Prain," said Gebb. "Your father is Dean,
who swore to kill that woman for accusing him of
Kirkstone's murder. He escaped and killed her and
gave you the necklace, and you won't speak because
you want to save your father's neck."
" My father has nothing to do with it, Mr. Gebb.
I did not get the necklace from him. I don't know
where he is. This is my last word," said Ferris,
firmly. And it was.
Gebb begged and implored and threatened, but
to no purpose. Whatever Ferris knew he kept to
himselfl
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CHAPTER XVI
MISS WEDDERBURN
Having failed with Ferris, owing to the artist's
obstinate refusal to speak, Gebb thought that he
would hear what Basson had to say. He knew from
Prain that the barrister had defended Marmaduke
Dean, and although he had not succeeded in obtain-
ing an acquittal, believed that his client was innocent.
Dean, of course, must have known that his counsel
held this opinion ; so, on escaping from prison, with
a desire to prove his innocence, it was not tmlikely
that he might have called secretly on Basson, and
implored his assistance. If so, Basson might know a
good deal about the man, if he could only be induced
to speak out, and it was to gain his confidence in this
matter that Gebb paid him a visit
* Of course he may know nothing/' thought Gebb,
as he walked the next day towards Blackstone Lane,
in which Mr, Basson — according to Alder — had his
abode. " On the other hand, if Dean called on him,
which is not unlikely, he may know a good deal I
i^ish to learn where Dean is hiding ; how he manages
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i62 THE LADY FROM NOWHERE
to live ; and what his movements were towards the
end of July last. Basson may be able to inform me
of these matters If he can, so much the better ; if he
can't, ril go down to Kirkstone Hall to search for
that confession, and see Miss Wedderbum before she
leaves the place. If she can't force Ferris to speak,
no one else can ; the man is as obstinate as a pig."
With this elegant simile Grebb turned out of Fleet
Street into Blackstone Lane, and shortly found him-
self climbing the narrow staircase of No. 4a Mr.
Basson being poor and briefless, and evidently care-
less of his ease, lived at the very top of the high
building. After ascending four flights of steep stairs,
the detective came upon a door with the name
"Clement Basson" painted on it in black letters.
Also there was a dingy scrap of paper, on which was
written, " Back in five minutes " ; so it seemed, much
to Gebb's disappointment, as though Basson were
not in his office. However, two or three sharp
knocks brought forth a grinning boy in a suit several
sizes too small for him, and this lad, having put Gebb
through a short examination, with the intention of
discovering if he had a bill or a writ, or a judgment
summons in his pocket, at length relented, and
announced that Mr. Basson was within. Evidently
the " Back in five minutes " label was used to beguile
creditors into thinking that Mr. Basson was absent
That announcement, and the conversation with the
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MISS WEDDERBURN 163
juvenile Cerberus, gave Gebb an immediate insight
into the state of Mr. Basson's financeSp and his
Bohemian mode of hand-to-mouth living.
Shortly he was ushered into a dingy chamber, very
barely furnished, and very dirty. There was a yellow
blind pulled up askew on an unclean window ; below
this a deal table covered with green baize, ink-stained
and worn-out, which was piled up with dirty papers.
An ancient bookcase, with a brass screen, was filled
with an array of untidy-looking volumes in calf-skin,
with red labels ; there were two chairs — one for the
lawj'er and one for any possible client, a rusty grate,
filled with tom-up papers, and an empty Japan coal-
scuttle. In the midst of these ruins of prosperity,
like Marius amid the remains of Carthage, sat Clement
Basson, a tall, jovial-looking man, with a fine head of
grey hair, a quick eye, and a neatly trimmed beard
and moustache. He was carelessly dressed in a kind
of sporting fashion, and wore an old cricketing-cap
on the back of his head. The man was clever, kindly,
and quick-witted ; he was also thriftless, weak-willed,
and untidy. His worser qualities weighed down his
better ; and with many qualifications for climbing to
the top of the tree, Mr. Basson preferred, out of sheer
idleness and lack of concentration, to dance gaily
round the trunk in ragged attire. He looked like a
survival of Grub Street ; one of the feather-headed
crew who wrote pamphlets and starved in garrets,
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164 THE LADY FROM NOWHERE
and naturally belong to the reigns of the early
Georges. He was quite out of place in the late
Victorian epoch — an ironical survival of the unfittest
"Good day!" he said, in a rich baritone voice,
advancing to meet his visitor. ** What can I do for
you, Mr. Gabb ? *'
**Gebb, sir; not Gabb," answered the detective,
seating himself in the one other chair.
" The boy said Gabb," retorted Basson, returning
to his chair. "He was thinkmg of his own gift,
maybe ; " and he laughed heartily at his rather feeble
joke. "Well, Mr. Gebb, have you brought me a
brief?"
"No," said Gebb, smiling, for the man's good
humour was infectious. "I'm in a different branch
of the law to a solicitor. I don't deal in briefs so
much as in handcuffs."
"Ah I You are a detective. A Bow Street
Runner."
" Yes. In charge of the Grangebury murder case."
"Just sol" said Basson, with a nod, and looking
grave. " I read about it in the papers ; and now I
remember, your name was mentioned. Well, and
have you caught the blackguard who murdered the
poor woman ? "
"Not yet I've come to see if you can help
me."
" I ? " said Basson, much amused. " You've come
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MISS WEDDERBURN 165
to the wrong shop, then. How should I know the
assassin ? "
•* If I can believe Mr. Alder, you knew him once,'*
was Gebb's reply.
" Ah 1 So Alder has been speaking to you about
me. He thinks that Dean is guilty, and I was Dean's
counsel in that Kirkstone case. Is it that you are
driving at, Mr. Gebb?"
•• It just is. Do you believe that Dean is guilty ? **
Basson did not reply immediately. He lighted a
German pipe of porcelain, and, blowing out the match,
placed it in a little pile which lay near the inkstand.
Then he puffed out a cloud of smoke, and through it
looked at his visitor.
"Why do you ask me?" he demanded abruptly.
"I want your opinion. I know from Mr. Alder
that you did not believe Dean guilty of Kirkstone's
murder."
*'No. That I did not," rejoined Basson, hastily.
•No more than I believe Mr, Ferris — poor boy —
guilty of this one. I was coming to tell you that he
was at my lecture on the night of the murder, but
Alder said he would speak to you about it Did
he?"
Gebb nodded. **I know that Ferris is innocent,
but he had the necklace in his possession, and that is
a suspicious circumstance."
''I saw about that in the papers," said Basson,
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166 THE LADY FROM NOWHERE
nodding. " Well, and how does he say the necklace
came into his hands ? "
" He declines to tell me."
•' Does he ? With his neck in the noose, so to
speak."
" Precisely, Mr. Basson ; he did not even confess his
presence at your lecture. He said he was innocent,
and for the rest held his tongue."
Basson stared, and pressed the tobacco in the pipe
bowl with his little finger. ** Now, that's queer," he
said. " Why does he act in this way ? "
" I think he wishes to shield his father."
"I didn't know he had a father. Thought his
father was dead."
" As good as dead, I am afraid. Dean is his father.*'
" What I " Basson's pipe fell out of his hands, and
he looked at Gebb in amazement ^' Dean, the man
I defended, Ferris's father ? "
" Yes, Ferris lived with some relations, who changed
his name when his father was condemned. Now,
Mr. Basson, I don't believe Dean is guilty of this
second murder ; but on no other ground than that
he did kill the woman, and gave Ferris the necklace
to pawn, can I account for the young man's silence."
'' Does he say that Dean is guilty ? " asked Basson,
picking up his pipe.
" No ; he denies it, but refuses to confess how he
became possessed of the necklace. Mr, Basson, tell
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MISS WEDDERBURN 167
me on what grounds you believed that Dean did not
kill Kirkstone."
" No motive," rejoined Basson. * People don't com-
mit murders without motives. But a year or two
ago I got an anonymous letter, which strengthened
my belief in his innocence. Wait a bit, and Til get
it for you."
He opened a small safe standing at the end of
the room near the bookcase, and after five minutes'
groping in its depths, at length fished out a dingy
bit of paper, which he brought back to Gebb. This
he spread out on the table, and raised his finger to
enforce the attention of the detective.
"Dean declared his innocence to me," said the
barrister, with forensic force, "and I believed him.
But he thought that Laura Kirkstone was guilty —
that in a mad fit she killed her brother. I did not
agree with this, for I held then, and I hold still, that
Ellen Gilmar stole that knife from Laura, and mur-
dered Kirkstone before she went upstairs to call Dean
and inculpate him in the murder. Now, when Dean
escaped from prison I received this letter ; read it."
Gebb glanced his eye rapidly over the scrap of
paper, which contained two lines of writing running
thus : " If you see Dean, tell him not to hunt down
a wretched woman. When she dies justice shall be
done." To this there was no name and no date and
no envelope. Gebb inquired after this latter.
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i68 THE LADY FROM NOWHERE
*' I'm sorry to say I destroyed it by mistake,'* said
Basson, with regret ; ** but I remember that it had the
Norminster post-mark on it, therefore I am sure
the note came from Miss Gilmar/'
" But why should she write to you ? " inquired the
detective.
'^ She fancied Dean on escaping might visit me to
get my aid to prove his innocence."
" I thought such might be the case myself," said
Gebb, thoughtfully, " Did he come near you at any
time after his escape ? "
**No," said Basson, emphatically, **! never saw
him from the time he went into prison. I don't
know where he is ; I wish I did, as this note shows
that Miss Gilmar knows herself to be guilty, and has
left some sort of confession behind, to be read after
her death and clear Dean."
*' Where do you think this confession is to be
found?"
" I don't know. She may have hidden it in Kirk-
stone Hall, or may have had it with hen When I
got this note I went at once to the Hall to tax Miss
Gilmar with writing it. However, she had fled out
of fear of Dean, and I could not learn her where-
abouts. The next I heard was her murder at Grange-
bury under the name of Ligram."
" Do you think Dean' killed her ? " asked Gebb,
anxiously.
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MISS WEDDERBURN 169
^I don't know. He might have found her and
tried to force her into confession, and failing getting
her to do so have killed her ; but I don't know."
" Well," said Gebb, getting on his legs, " I had an
idea myself that there might be a confession con-
cealed in Kirkstone Hall. Now, on the evidence of
this note, I am sure of it Til go down and search.
But tell me frankly, Mr. Basson, do you know where
Dean is to be found ? "
" No," said Basson, solemnly, ** I swear I don't."
" I must rely on myself, then," said Gebb, with a
sigh. " I'll see you again, Mr. Basson."
•*I shall be glad to help you, sir," replied the
barrister, and bowed the detective out of his dingy
room.
Gebb retired in an exultant frame of mind, as
he had discovered beyond all doubt that a con-
fession by Miss Gilmar was in existence which would
probably exonerate Dean from all complicity in Kirk-
stone's murder. The question was, where to search
for it On his way back to the office Gebb tried
vainly to find an answer to this query, but it was
banished from his mind when he discovered that no
less a person than Miss Wedderburn was waiting to
see him. She approached him at once when he
entered, and there was a sparkle of rage in her eyes,
which intimated that the object of her visit was not a
peaceful one.
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170 THE LADY FROM NOWHERE
" Here you are at last, Mr. Gebb ! " she said, in a
wrathful voice. " And pray, sir, what do you mean
by arresting Mr. Ferris ? "
"Oh, that's your trouble, is it, miss?'* answered
Gebb, coolly. " Well, my dear young lady, I arrested
Mr. Ferris because he pawned a diamond necklace ! "
* And what had that to do with you, may I ask ? '*
'* This much, miss. The necklace was the property
of Miss Gilmar, and was removed from her dead
body."
" Nothing of the sort 1 " cried Edith, vehemently.
"Ellen was alive when she gave away that neck-
lace."
" Gave away that necklace I " repeated Gebb, start-
ing up. " What do you mean ? "
" What I say I " rejoined Miss Wedderburn, tartly,
"I gave the necklace to Arthur, and it was Miss
Gilmar who presented it to me in Paradise Row,
on the night she was murdered."
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CHAPTER XVII
AN EXPLANATION
It took Gebb some time to grasp the meaning of
Miss Wedderburn's remarks, for the information
it conveyed seemed impossible of belief. He looked
so doubtful, that she repeated her speech with some
impatience.
" I tell you Miss Gilmar gave me that necklace
on the night she was murdered."
" At what hour ? " gasped Gebb, not quite master
of himsel£
"Shortly after nine o'clock.*
" Did you see her on that night ? "
"Of course I didl" said Edith, sharply. "How
.else could I have got the necklace ? **
" But you told me at Kirkstone Hall that you did
not know Miss Gilmar was in Grangebury."
••That is perfectly true," rejoined Edith, colour-
ing ; " but I told you many things that were false.
I was forced to do so, to protect Arthur and
mysclt"
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173 THE LADY FROM NOWHERE
^So you knew of the murder when I paid my first
visit?"
"Yes; and when you inquired after Arthur, I
fancied you had discovered his pawning of the
necklace, and that you intended to accuse him of
the crime. Naturally, I was anxious to save him."
" That was why you fainted," said Gebb, suddenly
enlightened
" It was. In a moment I saw Arthur's danger, as
I knew well he would not say that I gave him the
necklace ; so the thought made me faint When I
learned later that you knew nothing, I held my
tongue."
"You did, and to some purpose. I congratulate
you on your power of acting, Miss Wedderbura.
You deceived me completely."
"What else was I to do? " said Edith, resentfully.
"You would not have had me betray myself or
Arthur? How did you find out that the necklace
was pawned ? "
"That I shall explain later," replied Gebb,
annoyed by her attitude. "And, in my turn, may
I ask why you killed Miss Gilmar?"
Edith stared at him in surprise, and laughed.
"You are making a mistake I" she said with
haughty coolness. " I did not kill Ellen Gilmar."
** But you were with her on that night? "
" So I was ; but I left her at nine o'clock, and
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AN EXPLANATION 173
then she was alive and well Why should I kill
her?"
"To obtain the necklace.**
* What nonsense you talk, Mr. Gebb. She gave
me the necklace for Arthur, of her own free will.
Even if she had refused to give it to me I should
certainly not have murdered her. I love Arthur
very much, it is true, but hardly enough to commit
so wicked a deed for his sake."
"Do you swear that you are innocent?** asked
Gebb, looking at her keenly.
"Yes, I swear I am," she answered, meeting his
look with much frankness. "If necessary I can
prove my innocence, and that of Arthur."
" Oh, Mr. Alder has proved his innocence already."
"Very kind of him," said Edith, with sarcasm,
''for I dare say he was glad enough to hear of
Arthur's arrest"
"You do him wrong, Miss Wedderbum. On
seeing the case in the paper Mr. Alder came round
at once to see me. He stated that Mr. Ferris was
present in the Town Hall at Mr. Basson's lecture,
and therefore could not have been with Miss
Gilmar at ten o'clock, the hour when she was killed.
He proved your lover's innocence."
Edith raised her eyebrows and looked surprised.
•Why did Mr. Alder do that?" she said, half to
herself. " He hates Arthur because "
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174 THE LADY FROM NOWHERE
"Because he is engaged to you," finished Grcbb.
" That is a mistake, miss ; for Mr. Alder is quite
friendly with Mr. Ferris, and bears him no grudge
for winning your hand. You may not credit it, but
Mr. Alder is a real gentleman."
"The leopard can change his spots, then," said
Edith, still puzzled. " I should never have thought
that Mr. Alder was so generous. It is very
strange," she finished musingly — ^•'very strange
indeed."
The detective quite agreed with her. He thought
that the whole affair was wonderfully strange, par-
ticularly as he was ignorant of how Edith had
obtained a valuable necklace from an old miser like
Miss Gilmar; and, also, he could not understand
her reason for taking it He quite saw that she
had deceived him in order to save herself and
Ferris from being accused of the murder, but he
was doubtful if she was so innocent of all knowledge
concerning the death as she feigned to be. With
this idea in his mind he addressed her with some
sharpness, and asked her a leading question.
'' If you did not kill the woman yourself," said he,
"who did?"
" I don't know," answered Edith, candidly. " She
was alive when I left her at nine o'clock, and when I
saw her death in the paper I was as much surprised
as any one."
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AN EXPLANATION 175
'•You knew, then, that she called herself Miss
Ligram at Grangebury ? "
"Oh yes, else I would not have known she was
the victim. Though, to be sure," added Edith, with
a nod, "the description of the Yellow Boudoir
would have made me suspect. I spoke falsely for
my own ends when I told you that I saw no
newspapers at Norminster."
"Well, Miss Wedderburn," said Gebb, after a
pause, "I see no reason to doubt your innocence,
but I should like to hear your reasons for getting
the necklace/*
"I'll tell you the whole story, Mn Gebb. Indeed,
I am sorry now that I did not do so when you
called to see me ; but I was afraid of getting Arthur
into trouble, and so held my tongue."
"It was your silence which caused his arrest,"
said Gebb. " Had you spoken out, he would not
have been arrested."
*He could have exculpated himself," protested
Edith, earnestly.
" I dare say ; but in order to shield you — ^as I now
see— he refused to speak. However, we can talk of
these things later, Miss Wedderburn. Tell me your
story."
"Certainly; I shall explain fully," said the girl,
quickly, " and anything you do not quite understand
you can ask me about afterwards. Well, Mr. Gebb,
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176 THE LADY FROM NOWHERE
you must know, first of all, that Arthur is the son
of Marmaduke Dean, who "
"I am aware of that fact," interrupted Gebb.
"Praintoldme."
" Very good," said Edith, composedly. " It makes
my task the easier. Yes, he is the son of Dean ;
and when his father escaped from prison, some years
ago, he came down to Kirkstone Hall to see if the
poor man had returned there. You know that
Dean desired to revenge himself on Miss Gilmar
for her share in his condemnation. Well, Arthur
thought that his father might have gone to the Hall
to punish her ; so he came down to warn Miss Gilmar
and prevent a second crime, if possible."
" And what did Miss Gilmar do? "
"She was greatly alarmed by the news; and,
terrified lest Dean should really come, she went
away, as I told you before, and hid herself in London
under those several names. It was in this way that
I became acquainted with Arthur, and we were very
friendly. He used to visit me frequently, and in
the end we fell in love with one another."
•*As was natural," said Gebb, smiling. "But
before you proceed, tell me if Dean ever came to
the Hall, as he was expected."
"No," replied Edith, vehemently, "he never did.
I don't know where he is."
"Does Ferris know?" asked the detective, eagerly.
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AN EXPLANATION 177
^Not he! Neither of us have set eyes on his
father. The poor man may be dead for all we
know.'*
" I'm not so sure of that," said Gebb, thinking of
the murder. ** Go on, please."
"I would not tell you about my engagement,**
said Edith, who did not relish the smiles of the
detective, and therefore spoke with some resentment,
•but that it is necessary for the safety of Arthur
and myself that I should speak freely. Mr. Ferris "
—she adopted this more formal style of mention
to keep Gebb in order — '* Mr. Ferris came to see me
frequently, and confided to me all his troubles. He
was greatly in want of money, as his pictures did
not sell, and he had no one to help him. I could
not, as I had no money, and I was simply earning
my living as my cousin's housekeeper at Kirkstone
Hall. In July Ar , that is, Mr. Ferris, was in
such distress that I resolved to aid him by obtaining
from Miss Gilmar the diamond necklace which had
belonged to his father."
''I know," said Gebb, who was listening attentively,
^ the necklace which Dean gave Laura Kirkstone."
''Yes; it was a family jewel, and Dean gave it
to Laura only because she was to be lus wife. When
she died, it should have been returned to Dean —
or, as he was a convict — to his son. Miss Gilmar,
however, seized it, and all the rest of Laura's jewels.
N
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178 THE LADY FROM NOWHERE
With the other jewels I had nothing to do, but 1
was resolved to obtain the necklace for Arthur. Was
it not right to do so ? "
"Yes/' rejoined Gebb, promptly, "the necklace
certainly belonged to Mr. Ferris, as his father could
not benefit by it But my wonder is how you got
it From what I have heard of Miss Gilmar, I
should have thought the task an impossible one."
" It was difficult to obtain it, but I did so in the
end. I told you," said Edith, with some colour,
" that I did not know Miss Gilmar was at Grange-
bury. Well, that was not true; for she wrote to
me stating that she was living in Paradise Row
under the name of Ligram, and in her letter she
asked me about some business. I resolved to visit
Grangebury, but as I did not know where it was,
I asked Arthur to escort me."
" Did he know of your intention ? "
" No ; but curiously enough the week I wrote to
him he was going down to Grangebury to hear
a friend lecture. That was on the twenty-fourth of
July ; so I came up to town, and went with him
on that night"
"To the lecture?"
"Well, not at first The lecture did not b^fin
until close on nine o'clock, and I wished to see
Miss Gilmar; so I sent Arthur in to the Town
Hall, and intended to join him when I got the
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AN EXPLANATION 179
necklace. I then visited Miss Gilmar. She was
alone in the house, and admitted me herself. She
was much alanned at seeing me, and still more so
when I demanded the necklace/'
'^I don't wonder at it. Did she refuse to give
it up?"
** Yes ; although she was wearing it at the time.
I told her then that if she did not give it up to
me for Arthur, I should search for Dean and tell
him where she was. Indeed," added Edith, reflec-
tively, " I am not sure but what I did not say that
I knew where Dean was."
"But you did not?" said Gebb, looking at her
keenly.
"No, certainly not," she rejoined hastily; "but I
said so to frighten Miss Gilmar. She was terrified,
and implored me not to take the necklace or tell
Dean ; but I knew that I was acting rightly, so in
the end she gave me the necklace, which I put into
my pocket, and left at once."
"About what time?"
"About half-past nine, I think. Miss Gilmar
seemed anxious to get me away from the house, and
almost pushed me out of the front door, which she
locked after me. I then went to the Town Hall ;
but as Arthur was in one of the front seats, and
the lecturer was speaking, I did not wish to create
a disturbance by joining him, so I sat down near
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i8o THE LADY FROM NOWHERE
the door. I had some conversation with the door-
keeper as to where Mr. Ferris was seated ; so if you
ask him, he'll tell you that I sat near him until the
lecture concluded, at half-past ten o'clock. Then
Arthur joined me in much alarm, as he thought I
had got into trouble. We returned to London, where
I gave him the necklace, and told him to pawn it
and pay his debts. I slept at the Grosvenor Hotel,
near the Victoria Station, and Arthur went back to
his rooms in Chelsea. So you see, Mr. Gebb, both
he and I are quite innocent"
^ It seems so," said the cautious Gebb, not com*
mitting himself.
" It is so," insisted Edith, haughtily. " The door-
keeper can tell you that both Mr. Ferris and myself
were in the Town Hall before and after ten, and it
was about that time Miss Gilmar was murdered."
"Was any one with her when you called ?"
*'No. I told you she was alone; but there was
wine on a small table, and with that, and the way
she pushed me out, I was sure she expected some
one."
"Did you meet any one in the street going
there?"
" Not a soul I saw no one. Everybody in Grange-
bury seemed to be at the lecture."
"Did you write and tell Mr. Ferris about my
wit to you ? "
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AN EXPLANATION i8i
"Yes, I did; and warned him not to pawn the
necklace, as he might be suspected But it was
too late, for he pawned it the day after I gave it
to him. But he is innocent, as you see, Mr. Gebb.
Surely he will be released.*'
** When his trial takes place he will,** said Gebb.
** He would have been let off before if he had told
this story to the magistrate.**
"Ahl" said Edith, in a low voice, *'hc held his
peace for my sake. Good, brave Arthur I No
wonder I love him.'*
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CHAPTER XVIII
WHAT MRS. PRESK FOUND
Gebb continued to question and cross-question Edith
until he became thoroughly acquainted with the
details of her visit to Miss Gilmar at Grangebury.
When in full possession of the facts he permitted her
to depart, but took the precaution to ask for her
London address in case he should require her further
evidence. Edith informed him that since leaving
Kirkstone Hall she had been staying with an old
schoolfellow in Bloomsbury Square, and was likely
to remain there for some time, or at all events until
she could find a situation.
'* I must work, you know, Mr. Gebb,*' she confessed
frankly. " I am very poor.**
" Yet had you accepted Mr. Alder you would **
"Accept Mr. Alder! '* interrupted Edith, colouring.
" I would sooner sweep the streets than marry any
one but Arthur. Mr. Grebb,*' she added imploringly,
" now that you are convinced of his innocence, do get
him out of prison.*'
"I'll do my best," promised the detective. "He
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WHAT MRS- PRESK FOUND 183
will come up for trial in a week or two, but in the
mean time if I place the actual facts of the case before
the magistrate who committed him, I have no doubt
he will be admitted on bail/'
"Anything — anything, dear Mr, Gebb, so long as
he is set free 1 '*
The detective proved to be as good as his word,
and worked zealously in the interest of Ferris. As
the forthcoming trial would probably be a mere
matter of form, seeing that the later evidence ac-
quitted him, the magistrate readily accepted bail for
a small amount, and, to Edith's astonishment, the
person who guaranteed it was Mr. Alder. He came
forward in the most friendly way to stand security for
his rival, and would not even hear of Edith thank-
ing him when Arthur was released through his
generosity.
" I knew he was not guilty," said this benefactor to
Edith, " and I told Gebb it was a shame keeping an
innocent man in prison."
" How can we ever thank you ? " said Edith, tear-
fully.
•* There is no need to thank me, Miss Wedderburn.
Of course I should like you to marry me ; but as
Ferris proves to be the lucky man, I can only make
the best of my misfortune."
In her own heart Edith could not understand the
kindness of Mr. Alder, for up to the present she
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184 THE LADY FROM NOWHERE
had always thought him hard-hearted and selfish.
Perhaps the succession to the Kirkstone estates had
wrought this change, for previous to the death of his
cousin the barrister had been in deep water, as Basson
frankly told Gebb.
"It's an ill wind that blows nobody any good,"
said the Bohemian lawyer, ''and the wretch who
killed that old woman put a power of money into
Alder's pocket He isn't the man to live on nothing;
and has rather expensive tastes ; so, if he hadn't come
in for that property, he'd have been in Queer Street
It's truth Fm telling you." To which latter remark
Gebb quite assented, as Alder had rather the worn
look of a man who lived hard, and made the most of
his life.
"It's a pity Miss Wedderbum doesn't marry
him," he observed. "She might keep him in
order. He's a ship that needs an anchor, in my
opinion."
" Well, well, Mr. Gebb, Ferris is the better man of
the two."
'* But not the richer. Mr. Alder has offered two
hundred pounds reward for the capture of Miss Gil-
mar's assassin."
"And you intend to earn it, I suppose?" said
Basson, smiling.
" If I can ; but at present I see no chance of finding
the criminal Upon my word," cried Gebb, in disgust.
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WHAT MRS. PRESK FOUND 185
* against my better judgment I'm beginning to
believe that Dean is guilty after all"
'• I don't think so ; but if that is your idea, why
don't you find Dean and tax him with the crime?
An interview with him would put the matter beyond
all doubt"
" I don't know where to look for him/' said Gebb,
grumbling. **I think I shall look up Parge about
the matter. If any one knows where Dean is to be
found, Parge is the man. Yes, I'll see Parge."
" You may see Parge," said Basson, in a tone of
contempt, " but it's doubtful if you'll ever see Dean.
He has vanished so completely, that I should not be
at all surprised to learn that he is dead. If he was
alive and in hiding, surely the police would have
found him out before now."
'* Th s^police only perform miracles in nove ls"
replied Gebb, dryly, and went off to see Parge.
The fat ex-detective received him almost as wrath-
fully as he had done on the occasion of the previous
visit Gebb had been so busily employed in searching
for Miss Gilmar's assassin, that he had foolishly
omitted to pay Mr. Parge the attention which that
gentleman considered his due; therefore he was
greeted by his chief in anything but a friendly
way.
" And I don't want to hear any more excuses^"
said Parge, scowling; ''too much time is lost in
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i86 THE LADY FROM NOWHERE
telling unnecessary lies. Let me know how much
further you have got on with the case."
Glad to escape further blame, the detective related
all he had discovered in relation to Ferris and Miss
Wedderburn. Parge listened attentively, and was
gracious enough to signify his approval of Gebb's
conduct
** You have not done badly/' he said, with a nod.
"Although your discoveries have been due more to
good luck than to your own intelligence. If the girl
had not confessed about her visit, and her giving of
the necklace to Ferris, you would still be in doubt
about his innocence."
''No, I wouldn't," protested Gebk "Before Miss
Wedderburn spoke I was quite sure that Ferris
was guiltless. Alder's evidence proved that he
was at the lecture, at the time the crime was
committed."
" It didn't prove how Ferris became possessed of
the necklace, however," snapped Parge. " But I don't
see that you are much further on than before. Have
you examined that doorkeeper as to Miss Wcdder-
burn's presence in the lecture hall on the night and
at the hour of the murder ? "
" I have not had time, Simon. To-morrow morn-
ing I am going down to see him."
"At Grangcbury, I suppose? " said Parge. " Will
you find the man there ? "
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WHAT MRS. PRESK FOUND 187
''Yes ; the doorkeeper is also the caretaker of the
halL-
*" Then at the same time you had better call on Mrs.
Presk. I suppose the goods of Miss Gilmar have
been moved by Alder as her heir ? "
''Yesl The body was exhumed and has been
identified, and now Alder has taken possession of the
estates. Prain is attending to all legal matters con-
cerning the will, and, by Alder's direction, he dis-
manded the Yellow Boudour. I don't see what I shall
gain by seeing Mrs. Presk."
''You can find out if she has discovered anything
touching on the first or second murder I "
" I don't quite understand."
"Bah!" cried Parge, angrily. "Can't you under-
stand that a woman would not be left in possession of
a dead woman's goods without satisfying her curiosity
in some way? I'll bet you, Absalom, that Mrs.
Presk has searched in all Miss Gilmar's boxes,
and clothes, and papers, to find out what she can
about her. Now, it is just possible that Mrs. Presk
may have come across that confession you talk
about''
"Do you think it exists ?" asked Gebb, with some
scepticism.
"Yes, I do; that hint in the anonymous letter
written to Basson shows that Miss Gilmar had it in
her mind to do justice to the man she wronged."
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i88 THE LADY FROM NOWHERE
'* But you declared that Dean was guilty/' said
Gebb, recalling his first conversation.
'' So I did ; it seemed so at the time/' rejoined
Parge, promptly. " But I have altered my mind ;
especially since you told me about that letter written
by Miss Gilmar to Basson. Either she or Laura
Kirkstone killed the man. I don't know which,
neither do you ; so, for the gratification of our mutual
curiosity and the clearance of Dean, you had
better find that confession."
" Well, Simon, if that confession is anywhere, it is
hidden at Kirkstone Hall."
" It might be," replied Parge, cautiously. " On the
other hand, Miss Gilmar might have written it after
she fled from the Hall, and have carried it about with
her from place to place. If Mrs. Presk has found it,
she is just the kind of woman, from your description,
to make money over it, by refusing to give it up until
she gets her own terms. Call on Mrs. Presk, Absalom,
and find out the truth."
'' I'll do so/' said Gebb, making a mental note of
this. " But what about Dean ? "
" Well, I believe that Dean is guilty of murdering
Miss Gilmar/' said Parge, " even if he is innocent of
the first crime. He committed the second in order
to punish the woman who unjustly condemned him.
I am sure he had every cause to wish her ill She
treated him most vindictively."
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WHAT MRS. PRESK FOUND 189
" It is no use our discussing that matter," said
Gebb, tartly. " I believe— on arguments I furnished
you with before — that Dean is innocent You think
he is guilty ; time and discovery may prove which of
us is right The question now is, where is he to be
found?"
'' I can't say, Absalom. He escaped frpm prison in
1893, and we hunted for him high and low, but with-
out success. He vanished as completely as though
the earth had swallowed him up. I thought myself
he might have gone to Kirkstone Hall to kill Miss
Gilmar ; and I searched the neighbourhood, but he
was nowhere to be found. From that day to this not
a word has been heard of him.*'
** I suppose there is no use hunting for him ? "
" It is waste of time, to my mind," retorted Parge,
crossly. " You see what Mrs. Presk is doing. Ques-
tion her ; question the servant who ^ By the way,
what is the servant's name ? "
" Matilda Crane ; but she knows nothing."
" It's as well to ask her, however," warned Parge.
''The people who seem to know least usually know
most Now go away, Absalom, and don't be so long
in looking me up again. I'm anxious to get to the
bottom of this case."
"You can't be more anxious than I am," replied
Gebb, disconsolately.
'^ At all events^ I am more hopeful," rejoined Parge,
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190 THE LADY FROM NOWHERE
and dismissed his pupil, who went away with the
conviction that the old man was worn out — ^that he
was past work — and that no aid or useful advice
could be expected from him. But Gebb still had
sufficient reverence for his elder not to hint at these
things. Besides, Parge might have turned the tables
on him had |ie l>een too frank.
The next day he went down to Grangebury, and
called at the Town Hall to interview the caretaker.
He proved to be a smart ex-soldfer, with an observant
eye and a good memory, which gifts he made use of
on the present occasion for the benefit of Gebb, and
also of his own pocket.
•* I remember the lady quite well," he said, after
some thought " The young gentleman called him-
self Mr. Ferris, and told me he was going in, but that
a lady, by name Miss Wed derburn, would come after*
wards ; and he asked me to bring her up to where he
was sitting in the front seats. She came in about half-
past nine o'clock, but refused to let me take her up
to the front, as she did not wish to disturb the lecturer.
She sat down near the door, and when the lecture
ended the young gentleman joined her, and they went
out together."
•* Were they in the hall before ten o'clock ? " asked
Gebb.
** Yes, sir. Before ten and after ten. I saw them
both.".
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WHAT MRS. PRESK FOUND 191
This unprejudiced testimony put the ofiatter beyond
all doubt So Gebb gave the man a florin, and went
away quite convinced that Ferris and Edith were
innocent. He next called upon Mrs. Presk, and had an
interview with that lady, and with her servant. What
the landlady told him may be gathered from a conver-
sation later in the day which Gebb had yirith Edith.
It was in the afternoon when Miss Wedderbum
saw him. She was sitting with Arthur in the drawing,
room of Mrs. Barrington at Bloomsbury, and they
were anxiously discussing the case of Miss Gilmar*s
death when Gebb was announced. Neither Edith
nor her lover was particularly glad to see the detective,
as their associations with him had been anything but
pleasant However, Gebb took black looks and short
answers as a portion of the ills incidental to his pro-
fession, and conversed with the pair in his most
amiable and persuasive fashion.
** I have been down to Grangebury to-day," he said,
addressing Edith, " and I saw Mrs. Presk, the landlady
of your late cousin. From her I obtained a railway
ticket, and it is a piece of evidence of such importance
that I have come to you and Mr. Ferris about it."
"A railway ticket!" repeated Edith, looking
puzzled. ** From what station ? "
"The ticket," said Gebb, producing it from his
pocket-book, " is dated the twenty-fourth of July, and
is a return portion from London to Norminster 1 "
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192 THE LADY FROM NOWHERE
" It is not mine, then ! " cried Miss Wedderburn. ** I
did not take a return ticket."
" But you came up on the twenty-fourth of July
from Norminster, did you not ? **
^ Certainly ; to see Ellea But I bought a single
ticket, second class."
^ Second dass/' said the detective, looking at the
ticket ; "this is a third class return. Are you sure it
isn't yours ? "
"Quite sure" said Edith, decisively. ** Why should
I deceive you about it? *'
" Why, indeed I " said Gebb, ironically, with a hint
at her former deception. '* Is it yours, Mr. Ferris ? "
Arthur shook his head. ^No. If I travelled at
all it would be third class, I admit But I did not go
to Norminster in the month of July."
"I thought so," said Gebb, virith an air of relief.
** Then as this ticket belongs to neither of you, some
third person must have travelled from Norminster to
Grangebury on the twenty-fourth of July. And I
believe that person," added Gebb, emphatically,
"to be the murderer of Miss Gilmar."
"On what grounds?" cried Edith and Arthur
together.
"Because Mrs. Presk found this ticket to the
Yellow Boudoir. It must have been dropped there
by the assassin."
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CHAPTER XIX
THE UNEXPECTED OCCURS
Gebb found it impossible to discover the owner of
that third-class railway ticket He went himself to
Norminster to find out, if possible, to whom it had
been issued, but all in vain. The station-master had
taken another situation in Scotland, the ticket clerk
was absent on his annual holidays, and none of the
porters could remember any particular person who
had gone up to London on that particular day. On
the whole, circumstances seemed to be against Gebb
in following this clue, and after several vain attempts
he gave it up, at all events for the present This he
confessed to Parge, who at once reproved him for
faint-heartedness, and preached a lengthy sermon on
the folly of being discouraged.
**You don't expect roast ducks to fly into your
mouth, do you?" said Parge, indignantly. "Of
course, it is no easy task to hunt down a criminal.
We'd have all the bad 'uns in gaol if such was the
case. You've only been a week looking after this
ticket business, yet you shy off just because you can't
«93 o
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194 THE LADY FROM NOWHERE
find out about it straight away. You never were a
detective, Absalom, and you never will be t ''
''But just look here/' cried the badgered AbsalooL
" What can I do ? I've been "
"I know where you've been — ^to Norminster/
growled Parge, *'and I know what you've done —
nothing. You think I'm past work. I saw that the
other day. Well, from nat'ral infirmity, or too much
fat, so I am ; but in nowise else, Absalom, so don't
you believe it If I was in your shoes, which I ain't,
I'd write up to that station-master in Scotland, and
ask him if he knows of any particler person as left
Norminster on that day. It ain't a big place, and if
he's a sharp one he might remember."
"I've written to the station-master," cried Gebb,
crossly.
"Oh, have you?" returned Parge, rather disap-
pointed. " Then I'll be bound you don't know what
you're going to do about that ticket clerk."
''Yes, I do. I'm going to wait till he comes back,
and then question him at once. In about a week I'll
know all those two know, though I dare say it won't
be much. And look you here, Simon," cried Gebb,
warming up, "it's all very well your pitching into me
over this case ; but is it an easy one ? 'Cause if you
say it is, it ain't. I never in my bom days came
across such a corker of a case as this one. Who
would have thought that Ferris and the girl would be
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THE UNEXPECTED OCCURS 195
mixed up in it ? — ^yet they were. And who would
have thought them guilty ? Everybody ! And were
they guilty ? You know they weren't Can you find
Dean? No, you can't, though you tried yourself
when his trail was still fresh. Then how the devil do
you expect me to find him after all these years ? It's
very easy to sit in your chair and pick holes, Simon,
but when you come to work the case for yourself,
you'll be as up a tree as I am at this blessed
moment"
** I don't deny that the case is hard, Absalom."
" Hard I " echoed Gebb, with scorn ; " it's the most
unnaf ral case as ever was. I've only got one blessed
clue after all my hard work, and that's the railway
ticket ; which, so far as I can see, is about as much
good as a clock would be to a baby."
** Why don't you question Mrs. Presk ? "
^ I have questioned her, and the servant too ; and
beyond the ticket, she don't know a blessed thing."
** Can't Basson help you, or Mr. Alder, or Mr.
Ferris?"
'*No, none of the three; they don't know who
killed Miss Gilmar, and if it comes to a point, Simon,
I don't see why they should know."
" It is queer that the lot of them, including the
girl, should have been in Grangebury on the very
night of the murder," said Parge, with a musing air.
"It's a coincidence, that's all," retorted Gebb,
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196 THE LADY FROM NOWHERE
" and you know very well in our profession there's no
end of coincidences, though if you write them in a
book people tell you they're impossible. You can't
accuse any one of the three of killing the old woman,
as they were all in the lecture hall the whole evening.
You know all about Ferris, and Miss Wedderbum ;
well, it couldn't have been them. Mr. Basson was
lecturing ; it couldn't have been him. Mr. Alder was
looking after the money and the house, so as to get
plenty of cash in for his friend ; so it couldn't have
been him. If not them, who is guilty ? **
"Well, Dean must be the criminal''
"I don't believe it," replied Gebb, obstinately.
'' And if he is, he'll not be hanged ; for old Nick
himself couldn't hunt him out By the way, Simon,
what kind of a man was he to look at — ^to the naked
eye, so to speak ? "
"I don't know what he'll be like now," replied
Parge, briskly; "but he was uncommonly good-
looking in the dock, I can tell you. Just the man
to take a woman's fancy : tall, and darl^ and
smiling."
" Any particular mark ? " asked Gebb, professionally.
" Well, he wasn't scarred or scratched in any way
that I know of," replied Parge, reflectively, " but he
had a frown."
" Get along ! Every one's got a frown," said Gebb,
in a disgusted tone.
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THE UNEXPECTED OCCURS 197
"Not of his sort," was Parge's answer. ''Since
sitting here, Absalom, IVe been reading a heap of
books I never read before. Amongst others one
called ' Redgauntlet/ by a baronet, Sir Walter Scott.
Know it?"
" No, I don't. What has it got to do with Dean ? "
" There was a fellow in it/' said Parge, following
his own reflections, ^ as had a horseshoe mark over
his nose when he frowned. Quite queer it was."
**Must have been," said Gebb, derisively. "And
has Dean a horseshoe ? "
" No. But when he scowls, or frowns, like this " —
here Parge made a hideous face — ** he's got a queer
mark, deep as a well and quite straight, between his
eyebrows. I'd know him from among a thousand by
it Seems to cut his forehead in two like. If you
see a man with a mark like that when he's in a rage,
Absalom, just you nab him, for that's Dean."
"Stuff I" said Gebb, impatiently. "Lots of men
wrinkle up into lines when they get out of temper.
I've seen foreheads like Clapham Junction for lines."
" Not so deep," answered Parge, shaking his head,
"and not straight down between the eyes. Most
men frown in lines which run across the forehead
when they raise their eyebrows like ; but Dean draws
everything up to a deep mark as dips just between
the eyebrows and on to the nose. It's the queerest
mark I ever saw ; and whatever disguise he puts on
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198 THE LADY FROM NOWHERE
he can't smooth that furrow out. A baby could tell
him by it"
" Hum ! " said Gebb, who had been thinking. * Now
you come to talk of it, Simon, that young Ferris has
a mark like that, but not very deep."
** He's young yet, Absalom ; but I dare say he
takes after his father. Well, all I say is that there's
no other way in which you'll spot Dean. He may
grow old, and white, and shaky, or he may disguise
himself in all kinds of ways, but he can't rub out that
brand of Cain as Nature has set on him. I said it
before, and I say it again."
" I'll look round for a man of that sort," said Gebb,
rising to take his leave, " but I can't say I've much
hope of finding him. Dean's been lost for so long
that I dare say he's lost for ever. Well, good-bye,
Simon. I won't see you for a day or two. There's
heaps for me to do.**
** Where are you going ? " grunted the fat man.
" I'm off to ask Mr. Alder to let me search in Kirk-
stone Hall for that confession of Miss Gilmar's. Then
I'm going down there to look it up."
" That won't do any good towards finding out who
killed her," said Parge, shaking his head.
" I don't know so much about that, Simon," replied
Gebb, coolly. " I wouldn't be a bit surprised to find
as the person who killed Kirkstone was some one quite
different from those we suspect"
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THE UNEXPECTED OCCURS 199
''It must be either Miss G. or Miss K./' said
PargCy ''and knowing the truth about them won't
help you to spot the assassin. You look for Dean
first, Absalom, and leave the confession alone for
a whfle."
''No!" replied Gebb, obstinately. "I'll look for
the confession, and fly round afterwards for Dean.
You let me negotiate the job in my own way,
Simon."
With this determination, of which Parge by no
means approved, but was unable to hinder, Gebb
went off to make his last venture in solving the
mystery. By this time he was in a furious rage
at his many failures, and swore under his breath
that come what might he would hunt down and
punish the unknown assassin of the wretched old
woman who had been strangled in Paradise Row.
He had three designs in his head, one of which
he hoped might serve to attain the much-desired
end. Firstly, he intended to search for the con-
fession of Miss Gilmar, in the belief that it might
throw some light on the later case. Secondly, he
resolved to follow the clue of the railway ticket,
and learn who had come up from Norminster on
that fatal night to visit Miss Gilmar, since such
person — on the evidence of the ticket found in the
Yellow Boudoir — was undoubtedly her murderer.
Thirdly, he was bent upon making another search
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200 THE LADY FROM NOWHERE
round the pawnshops to see if any of the other
jewels taken from the body had been turned into
money. The appearance of the necklace was
accounted for by Edith, as she had received it from
the old woman before the assassin had arrived;
but the rings, bracelets, and hair ornaments were
still missing. Sooner or later, in order to benefit
by his crime, the murderer would seek to turn them
into cash when he thought the storm had blown oven
Then was the time to trace and capture him.
The French have a proverb which runs in English,
"that nothing is certain but the unforeseen," and
certainly Gebb proved the truth of this when he
arrived at Aider's lodgings. As yet the barrister,
pending the administration of the estate, had not
moved from his rooms in the Temple; but he in-
tended to do so shortly, and already had engaged
handsome chambers in Half-moon Street Thes^
however, he was never destined to occupy, for on
the very day Gebb called to see him he met with
an accident which seemed likely to result in his
death. As one pleasure to be gained from his riches,
Alder had purchased a horse, shortly after coming
into his fortune, and every morning went riding in
the Row. He was a good rider, but not having
indulged in the exercise for some years, by reason
of his impecuniosity, he had lost a portion of his
skill, with the result that the horse, a fiery animal
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THE UNEXPECTED OCCURS 2oi
with tricks of which Alder was ignorant, bolted un-
expectedly, and threw his rider against the rails.
Alder fell across them with such force that he had
injured his spine, and now was lying in his rooms in
a crippled condition.
•* Do you think he'll get over it ? " asked Gcbb, when
Alder's servant was relating the occurrence.
"No, sir," answered the man, shaking his head.
*' The doctor says he's bound to die sooner or later.
The spine is injured, and my poor master can't feel
anything below his waist It's death in life already,
and the end is sure to come."
" Can I see him ? " asked the detective, after some
thought
"No, sir ; the doctor left word that he was to see
no one."
With this Gcbb was forced to be content; and
as already he had obtained Alder's permission to
search the Hall, he went away rather low*spirited.
It seemed hard that the man should come to an
untimely end, just when he inherited his kingdom.
Moreover, he had behaved very well in defending
Ferris in the face of all evidence, and releasing him
from prison ; therefore Gebb thought it just as well
to send a line to the artist and Edith, so that they
might come forward in their turn to do what they
could for the man who had acted so generously
towards them both.
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203 THE LADY FROM NOWHERE
^* It's hard lines/' said Gebb to himself, when he had
posted his letter. ^ I do call it hard. Alder gained
a fortune, it is true ; but he lost the woman he wished
to marry, and now he loses his life. It's a queer world,
that gives a man a pleasure only to take it away
from him again. I don't understand the workings
of Providence nohow."
With this philosophical reflection, Gebb went home
to make his plans before going down to Norminster
the next day. He had little hope of success, how-
ever, and now that Alder was dying, he wondered, if
he did capture the murderer, if the reward would be
paid to him.
"Of course it will," he said to himself on reflection,
" for if Alder dies. Miss Wedderbum becomes mistress
oftheHalL"
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CHAPTER XX
A NEEDLE IN A HAYSTACK
It was a bright and sunny day when Gebb found
himself once more at Kirkstone HalL In the sun-
shine the building looked grim and desolate. The
smokeless chimneys, the closed doors, dusty windows,
and grass-grown terraces, gave the place a forlorn and
wretched aspect ; and the absence of life, the silence
broken only by the twittering of the birds, the neg-
lected gardens, created, even to the detective's prosaic
mind, an atmosphere of menace and dread It looked
like a place with a history ; and Gebb wondered if
Miss Wedderbum, on becoming its mistress, would
care to inhabit it again.
''When she marries Ferris and begins a new life,
I dare say she will seek some more cheerful abode,"
he thought, as he stood on the terrace, and looked
on the silent house. ''It would be foolish for a
young couple to dwell with the ghosts of the past
I am not imaginative myself, but I should not care
to live here ; no, not if the house was given to me
rent free. If I were Miss Wedderbum I'd pull it
003
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204 THE LADY FROM NOWHERE
down and build a new place without a past or a
ghost"
While Gebb soliloquized thus, he heard a hoarse
voice in the distance, and saw Martin, spade on
shoulder, passing across the lawn singing one of his
gruesome songs. Evidently he had caught sight of
the detective on the terrace, for not until he came
towards him did he begin to sing. Then he danced
grotesquely over the green turf, croaking his wild
ditty, and looking a strange figure in the strong sun-
shine ; yet not unsuited to the lonely place, with its
grim associations : —
** When moon shines clear my shadow and I
Dance in the silver light ;
When moon lies hid in a cloudy sky
My shadow with her takes flight
And I remain, in the (ailing rain,
Calling upon my shadow in vain :
' Oh, shadow dear, I wait you hex^
Alone in the lonely night* "
When he came close to Gebb he stopped his song
and dance suddenly, and looked inquiringly at the
detective with his head on one side. " What do you
want ? " he croaked. ** There is nothing here but death
and misery."
" I've come to look at the house, Martin. Can you
show me over it ? "
"No, no," said the gardener, shaking his head.
« I don't walk through the valley of dry bones. If
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A NEEDLE IN A HAYSTACK 205
you sit in the Yellow Room you hear the dead tell
secrets."
•* What kind of secrets ? " asked Gebb, humouring
him.
** How the sister killed the brother, and how she
who killed them both laughed and laughed
* Bat she died at last in deep despair
When Satan caught her in his snare.' **
Gebb looked fixedly at the man. He had been in
the house at the time of the Kirkstone murder, so it
might be that his poor wits retained a memory of the
tragedy. Was it possible that light could be thrown
on its darkness by this madman? The detective
asked himself that question once or twic^ as he
listened to the poor creature rambling on, how Laura
had killed her brother at the instigation of Miss
Gilmar.
"And is Mr. Dean innocent?" he asked suddenly.
" God and His saints know that he had no hand in
it I " cried Martin, with a remarkably sane look on his
face. **A woman ruined one, a woman slew the
other ; and the poor soul lies in chains — in chains."
And he fell to weeping, as though his heart would
break with sorrow and pain.
"I wonder if this is the truth," thought Gebb.
"Perhaps, after all, Laura did murder her brother,
and Miss Gilmar to save her denounced Dean. But
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2o6 THE LADY FROM NOWHERE
there is no sense to be got out of this lunatic ; his
evidence would not stand in a court of law. The
only thing is to search for that confession, so the
sooner I set to work the better. — Martin/' he said»
aloud, " can you show me over the house ? "
« Not I ! Not 1 1 Ask old Jane. Come, and I'll
take you to old Jane ; " and shouldering his spade
again, Martin walked off round the comer of the
terrace, singing : —
** God it £ur awmy, alas t
The Devil is beside ns ;
And as we wander thro' the world.
He is the one to guide ns.
** He giTes with grin, the wage of sin ;
And when the fiend hath paid us,
We stand outside the gate of Hell,
With Christ alone to aid us."
Old Jane proved to be a grim and elderly female
in a rusty black dress and a still rustier bonnet She
came out of a side door, and wiping her hands on a
coarse apron, curtsied to Gebb, while Martin, in*
troducing the pair with a regal wave of the hand,
danced off round the corner.
*' What may you be pleased to want ? '' asked old
Jane, when the scarecrow gardener had disappeared.
"I have received permission from Mr. Alder to
look over the house," replied the detective, "and I
wkh you to show it to me."
'* There ain't much to see, sir," croaked the ancient
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A NEEDLE IN A HAYSTACK 207
dame, *' it's all dust and darkness. I doubt if my old
legs would carry me over it"
" Oh, well, I can go by myself, Jane,** said Gebb,
cheerfully.
" Mrs. Grij^ if you please ! ** snapped Jane, indig-
nantly. " I only allows Miss Edith to call me by my
first name. Poor pretty dear, and she's gone away
for ever."
" I wouldn't be too sure of that," rejoined Gebb,
dryly. "Mr. Alder has met with an accident and
may die ; in which case Miss Wedderbum will return
here as mistress."
"Mr- Alder's ill, is he?" said Jane, in no very
r^retful tone, "and may die. Ah, well," with a
lachrymose whine, " all flesh is grass, that it is ; and
if Miss Edith does come back I hope she'll shut up
the Yeller Room."
** For what reason, Mrs. Grix ? "
"'Cause it's haunted by spirits," replied Mrs. Grix,
with a mysterious look. "I've heard the two of
'em quarrelling there."
"Which two? What two?" asked Gebb, who
b^an to think that the old lady had been at the
bottle.
"Miss Gilmar and the master; they 'aunts the
Yeller Room and fights. I knows it ; 'cause I sleeps
here all alone, save for Martin as lives in the back
part ; an' I hears voices, that I do."
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208 THE LADY FROM NOWHERE
'' I wonder you are not more afraid of that mad-
man than of ghosts."
Mrs. Grix smiled in a cunning and significant
manner. '' Oh, I ain't afraid of Martin, sir ; no one
as knows him fears him."
" And why? " asked Gebb, sharply.
This question Mrs. Grix did not choose to hear ;
but mumbling and shaking her old head, hobbled
along the passages in the direction of the Yellow
Room. She ushered Gebb into this with a chuckle,
and threw open the shutters to let the sunlight shine
on the faded and time-worn decorations of the
roont
'* I s'pose you'll want to see this first," said Mrs,
Grix ; *' most folks likes to see a room as a murder's
been done in. There's a stain of blood over in that
comer — master's blood, which Miss Gilmar would
never let be wiped out I dessay master comes and
looks at it, and wishes he had his body again. He
was an awful bad one — and mean I " Mrs. Grix lifted
up a pair of dirty and trembling hands. " They was
both of 'em skinflints," said she, with a nod.
"Whom are you speaking of, Mrs. Grix ? "
" Of Miss Gilmar and Mr. Kirkstone, sir."
*' Did you know them ? "
*' Did I know them ? " echoed the hag, with scorn.
'* Of course I knowed them ; and a bad lot the pair
of 'em was. They give Miss Laurer a fine tim^ I can
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A NEEDLE IN A HAYSTACK 309
tell you. I wonder she didn't go off with Mr. Dean,
I do/'
*Were you here when the murder took place?"
asked Gebb.
"Lor' bless yer 'eart, I sawr the 'ole of it," croaked
Mrs. Grix. " Master was a-lying over there with a
knife in his 'eart» and Miss Gilmar, she was 'oUering
for the police."
"Did Dean kill Kirkstone ? **
"Ah, that's telling I" said Mrs. Grix, cunningly.
''Don't you ask no questions, young man, and you
won't be told no lies."
"You must tell me!" cried Gebb, seizing her by
the wrist " I am from Scotland Yard — a detective."
And he shook the beldame furiously.
Mrs. Grix raised a feeble wail of horror.
"Lor', you're perlice, are you?" she whimpered.
" Jist let me go ; I know nothin'."
"Did Laura Kirkstone kill her brother?"
" I dunno ; I swear I dunno."
"Was Miss Gilmar the criminal?"
Mrs. Grix leered "She never told me she was,
sir, but she didn't carry the Yeller Room about with
her for nothing."
"What do you mean ? " said Gebb, releasing her.
Mrs. Grix rubbed her wrist, which had been some-
what bruised by his clasp, and leered again. " Miss
Gilmar wrote it all down," she said.
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210 THE LADY FROM NOWHERE
** A confession ? " cried the detective.
^^ I dunno what you call it, sir ; but I know she
wrote it down, 'cause she said to me, ' It'll be all right
when Pm dead/ Well, she are dead,** said Mrs.
Grix, ''and it ain't all right, unless she left the writin'
behind hen"
" Where is that confession ? "
''I dunno. I wish I did. There's money in it
I've hunted all over the 'ous^ and I can't come across
it nohow."
" Well, Mrs. Grix, what is your opinion ? Was it
Dean, or Miss Gilmar, or Miss Laura who killed the
man?"
** You look about for the paper, lovey," said Mrs.
Grix, coaxingly, "and it'll tell ye all."
"You tell me."'
" But I don't know for certain."
" Never mind. What is your opinion ? "
" Will ye give me money for it ? "
♦* That depends upon your information."
*' Then I shan't tell ye," cried Mrs. Grix, backing
towards the door. "You can look for what she
wrote. I shan't 'elp you. Keep me fro' the work-
'ouse, and maybe Til tell ye summat to make you
wink ; but not now, not now. Old Jane Grix ain't
no fool, lovey. No, no I "
Gebb made a step forward to detain her, but Mrs.
Grix hobbled through the door and vanished in the
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A NEEDLE IN A HAYSTACK 211
darkness as mysteriously as any of the ghosts she had
been talking about At all events, when the detective
slipped out of the Yellow Room and into the twilight
of the passage, his eyes were somewhat dazzled by
the sunlight and glare of colour within, and he
saw nothing for the moment Mrs. Grix was quicker
on her old feet than he supposed, and in some way
hobbled out of sight into one of the numerous
passages, so that when Gebb's eyes became accustomed
to the gloom he did not know into which one she
had gone. Also he heard rapidly retreating footsteps
— not the heavy hobble of the old woman, but rather
the light, dancing step of Martin. And as to confirm
this impression he heard the hoarse voice of the
gardener singing one of his wild songs :—
^ Light shall come, bat not from abovey
Joy shall come, but not from love,
The glow of hell, the Inst of hate.
Impatiently for these I wait"
'^ Ha I " said Gebb to himself, as he hurried down
the passage. " Martin has been listening. I wonder
why ? I don't believe he is mad, after all, for neither
that old woman nor Miss Wedderburn is afraid of him.
He must be feigning madness for some reason. Ha I "
cried the detective with a sudden start, ''can Martin
be the murderer of "
Before he could finish the sentence he heard a
series of piercing shrieks from Mrs. Grix, and a
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212 THE LADY FROM NOWHERE
hoarse growling from Martin. These noises sounded
far in the distance, and Gebb ran down the passage,
through the sitting-room into which he had been
shown by Miss Wedderbum on the occasion of his
first visit, and on to the terrace. Here he saw Mrs.
Grix running from Martin, who was rushing after
her with a furious face. Gebb stared, not at the
terrified old woman, who was hurrying towards him
with wonderful activity for one of her years, but
at Martin's face. It wore a savage scowl, and
there between the eyes was the deep mark spoken
of by Parge.
"Dean!" cried Gebb, thunderstruck. "You are
Dean!"
" Yes ! yes ! " screeched Mrs. Grix, getting behind
Gebb, " he*s Dean sure enough. He was going to
kill me 'cause I wanted to tell ye."
Martin^or rather Dean — ^stopped when he heard
his name^ then turned, and leaping over the terrace
ran like a hare down the avenue.
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CHAPTER XXI
FOUND AT LAST
On seeing the pseudonymous gardener speeding
down the avenue, Gebb lost no time, but, leaving
Mrs. Grix to her rage and lamentation, vaulted over
the terrace in his turn, and raced at top speed after
the fugitive. The detective was lean and young, and
an excellent runner, whereas Dean, alias Martin, was
old and scant of breath ; so the only thing which
equalized the contest was the despair which winged
the feet of the vrretched quarry. If Dean were
caught by the bloodhound of the law, he would be
shortly relegated to the prison whence he had
escaped ; so he flew wildly over the ground, running
he knew not whither to escape the fate which awaited
him. And Gebb, who personified Nemesis, followed
hot-footed in his track.
The road to Norminster ran straight through the
fields like a white ribbon laid upon green velvet, and
the town itself was distant a mile from Kirkstone
HalL Down this, amid a cloud of white dust, Gebb
saw Dean running some way ahead, and setting his
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214 THE LADY FROM NOWHERE
elbows to his sides he followed steadily and surelyi
reserving his wind for the termination of the race,
the result of which could only be the capture of the
ragged figure now flying for dear life. Carters, and
pedestrians, and labourers in the fields stared in
amazement at the chase, and some, with that love of
sport inherent in every breast, joined Gebb In his
man-hunt After Dean had covered a quarter of a
mile he began to fail, and to zigzag in his course,
bounding wildly from one side to the other, and
wasting his strength in useless ways. Gebb with
his shouting train drew steadily nearer, and the
miserable, hunted wretch could hear their cries, and
the beating of their feet on the- hard white road.
Still he endeavoured to shake off his pursuers and
escape, for by a powerful effort he managed to run
another quarter of a mile. Then age and fear and
exhaustion told on his failing limbs, and with a wild
cry Dean flung up his hands despairingly and fell
amid puffs of dust. When Gebb arrived he
was lying senseless in the middle of the high-
road.
" So ! " said the detective to himself, as he knelt
beside the ragged creature. " I've found you at last,
Mr. Dean. You know the truth of all these matters,
at any rate ; and in some way or another I'll force
you into confessing it"
But at the present moment it seemed as though
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FOUND AT LAST 215
Dean would never speak again in this worlds for he
lay as still as any corpse, his white head and whiter
face resting on Gebb's knee. The frowning mark
between the eyes, by which the detective had known
him, was smoothed away, and there was no ex-
pression on the blank countenance, no movement in
the slack limbs. Gebb, however, knew that this
apparent death was only a temporary faintness, and
whipping out his brandy-flask, forced some drops
of the fiery liquid between the white lips of his
prisoner. While engaged in this kindly office, the
labourers who had joined in the pursuit came up
with much amazement expressed on their honest,
sunburnt faces.
"What's the matter with Mad Martin, mister?"
asked one, looking at the unconscious Dean.
"He's madder than usual, that's all,*' said Gebb,
" and has nearly killed Mrs. Grix at the Hall yonder.
I must take him to Norminster and get a doctor to
look after him : he'll die here.**
The detective made this artful speech with the in-
tention of enlisting the sympathy of the bystanders,
both for himself and Martin, alias Dean, as popular
feeling generally inclines towards defiance of law and
order. Moreover, a detective is not an admired
character with the common people, and Gebb had no
desire to render his task of capturing Dean more
difficult than was necessary by stating his vocation ;
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2i6 THE LADY FROM NOWHERE
so for diplomatic reasons he spoke as above. The
result justified his precaution, for the labourers were
most anxious that the mad gardener — as they knew
him to be — should be taken at once to Norminster
and placed in charge of a medical man. A cart was
coming along the road, and into this Dean was
hoisted by friendly hands. Gebb having taken his
seat beside him, the vehicle rolled slowly towards
Norminster, while the labourers returned to their
work, quite vivacious after the exciting episode which
had broken the monotony of the day. Gebb, know-
ing what was at stake, felt thankful to get rid of them
so easily.
As it was but half a mile to Norminster from the
spot where Dean had fallen, the cart soon arrived
there. The man himself had revived, thanks to
Gebb's brandy, and sat staring straight before him in
a kind of sullen stupor. He made one effort to escape
when he was set down at the door of the gaol ; but
Gebb, with the assistance of a near policeman, soon
overpowered him, and carried him within, while the
carter drove off, wondering, in his slow- thinking mind,
that a man brought to see a doctor should be taken
to the county gaol for care. However, he had received
five shillings from Gebb, so did not trouble his head
about the matter, and spent most of it at the next
public-house, where he narrated the episode with
such additions as his drunken humour suggested
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FOUND AT LAST 217
To the governor of the gaol Gebb explained that
Dean was an escaped prisoner^ for whom the police
had long been looking, and mentioned his own name
and occupation. The result of this was that Dean
was confined in a cell with a warder to watch him
lest he should in his despair attempt suicide. Then
Gebb repaired to an hotel and wrote to the governor
of the gaol whence Dean had escaped, asking him to
come down himself or send some responsible person
in order to identify the prisoner. The detective also
sent an urgent wire to Ferris, requesting him to visit
Norminster at once on business connected with Mar-
tin ; for he shrewdly suspected that the artist knew
of the man's identity with Dean, and that the mention
of the name would bring both Arthur and Edith im-
mediately to Kirkstone Hall. It was shortly after
midday when Gebb sent this telegram, so he quite
expected that if matters stood as he imagined Ferris
would come down, and not alone ; for if Ferris knew
that Martin was his father, Edith also must be in the
secret, and, no doubt, she would accompany him.
Then Gebb, who was really angry with the young
couple for their many concealments, determined to
have a thorough explanation of their strange behaviour.
These important matters having been attended to,
Gebb returned to the gaol and saw Dean ; but the
interview proved to be anything but a success.
Whether the man was mad or not Gebb could not
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2i8 THE LADY FROM NOWHERE
decide without evidence; but certainly his present
sullen silence formed a strange contrast to his former
excitement He neither talked recklessly nor sang
his wild songs. His limbs were at rest, and his eyes
looked dull, although formerly they had been bright
and glittering. With vacant gaze and a sullen ex-
pression, he sat huddled up in a comer of his cell
and absolutely refused to speak or even notice his
questioner. The man was thoroughly exhausted and
worn out ; but Gebb left the cell with the firm con-
viction that Dean was perfectly sane, and that his
madness had been feigned to more effectually baffle
dangerous inquiries. But, like the fox in the fable,
for all his tricks the man had been caught at last, and
Gebb wondered if, after all, he had murdered Miss
Gilmar.
'' Did that return third-class ticket dropped in the
room at Paradise Row belong to Dean ? " the detective
asked himself. ** I should not be surprised if it did.
As Miss Wedderbum denies that it is hers, Dean,
under the name of Martin, is the only person who
could have used it In that case he must have
remained in London all night ; for, as the crime was
committed at ten o'clock, he could not have caught
a return train so late to Norminster. Now, Mrs. Grix
lives in the Hall, so she is the most likely person to
let me know if Dean was absent on the twenty-fourth
of July. I'll see her at once and get to know all I can.
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FOUND AT LAST 219
pending the arrival of Ferris and Miss Wedderbum.
They may deny Dean's complicity in the crime, so I
must be prepared to baffle them.'*
Having made up his mind to question Mrs. Grix,
the detective, making a hurried meal, walked out to
Kirkstone Hall, and arrived to find the old woman
solacing herself with gin-and-water after the fatigues
of the morning. She was excessively nervous when
Gebb reappeared, as she was conscious she had said
too much in her rage with Martin, and now guessed
that she was about to be thoroughly examined touching
all she knew concerning him. Mrs. Grix, to save her
own skin, was quite prepared to equivocate, and Gebb
guessed as much, for he went to work with her in a
severe official way which frightened her considerably.
" Now, Mra Grix," said he, when they were comfort-
ably established in the kitchen, ''I've come to ask
you a few questions."
"I don't know nothin', I don't," protested Mrs.
Grix, beginning her tactics.
** You know a great deal," replied Gebb, sharply.
" And if you don't answer me truthfully, I'll arrest
you on suspicion and put you in gaol 'longside of
Dean ; so now you know."
" Lawk-a-mussy ! " squealed Mrs. Grix, *' have you
put him in prison ? "
"Yes, I have ; so you tell me the truth, or I'll put
you in also I '*
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220 THE LADY FROM NOWHERE
" 111 speak out, sir," cried the old wretch, much
terrified. " I don't want to go to prison. I've done
nothing.**
"You have spied and listened and searched,"
retorted Gebb, "all for the sake of gaining possession
of other people's secrets and extracting blackmail
when possible. Now you answer my questions, or it
will be the worse for you."
"I'm willing, sir," said Mrs. Grix, meekly; "but
I don't know as much as you think. I only suspects
like."
" Can you tell me who killed Kirkstone ? " asked
the detective.
"That's one thing I don't know for certain," replied
the dame ; " but if you arsk me, sir, I bel've as Miss
Gilmar did."
" On what grounds do you suspect her ? "
" Becose she wrote out summat telling the truth
and hid it ; and she wouldn't have done that, unless
she were guilty. Then she were in love with Mr.
Dean, and Mr. Kirkstone wanted him to marry Miss
Laura ; so I thinks as Miss Ellen got 'em both out of
the way. She was a clever one, was Miss Ellen."
" Do you know where the confession is ? "
"No, I don't Martin was always hunting for it
to clear himself, but if he found it he didn't tell
me."
"And Martin is Dean?"
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FOUND AT LAST 221
''Yes, he is. It ain't no good tellin' lies, lovey!
He is Dean!"
" I thought there was a gardener here at the time
of the murder called Martin ? "
"There was," replied Mrs. Grix, coolly. " And he
was queer, too, I tell you ; but not as queer as this
Martin. I knowed he was Dean as soon as I clapped
eyes on him, though he was sorely altered from the
'andsome man he was."
''Then he impersonated Martin to save himself
from the police ? "
"He did; he's no more mad than I am; but he
thought it was safer to pretend being crazy. His
songs was awful," said Mrs. Grix, shuddering.
"Did Miss Wcdderburn know the truth?"
"Of course, sir! And when she knowed as I
knowed, she tole me to 'old my tongue, and paid me
for doing it ; but she didn't give much, lovey I "
"Did Mr. Ferris know? "
"Seeing as Mr. Dean's his own bom father —
which I knowed fro' listening to 'm talking — he did."
"Did Dean kill Miss Gilmar?"
Mrs. Grix did not reply to this question with her
former glibness. " I don't rightly know of that," she
said slowly. "If he did, it wasn't here, for Miss
Ellen was in London this long time."
** Was Dean ever in London while he stayed here
under the name of Martin ? "
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222 THE LADY FROM NOWHERE
**Yes, he was. And just about the time of the
murder. It was in July Miss Ellen died, wasn't it ? "
"It was/* replied Gebb, eagerly, **on the twenty-
fourth of July."
*' Ah, well, I shouldn't be surprised if Dean did
kill her. He was always talking of punishing her,"
continued Mrs. Grix, with relish ; "but I didn't think
he'd go so far as murder."
"What makes you think that he did?" asked
Gcbb.
"Why," said Mrs. Grix, nodding, "he was up ia
London in July, and he stayed there all night"
"On the twenty-fourth ?"
"I can't be sure, sir, but it was at the end oi the
month. And when he came back he was queerer
than ever. Ob, I dessay he went up to kill Miss
Ellen," said Mrs. Grix, with conviction. "I can't
swear to it, but I'm sure he did ; and serve her right,
too."
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CHAPTER XXII
A SECRET HOARD
On concluding the examination of Mrs. Grix — ^which
lasted some time^ owing to the inherent objection of
that lady to speak the truth — Gebb spent the after-'
noon in searching the house for Miss Gilmar's con-,
fession. By this time he had quite adopted the
opinion of Mrs. Grix regarding the guilt of the
former housekeeper, and, on the same authority, he
was certain that she had written out and hidden
away an account of her crime. The question was/
where was it concealed ? For the house was so large
and rambling, and dusty and dusky, that Gebb almost
despaired of finding the paper. At first he thought
it might be hidden in the Yellow Room. In that
fatal apartment the crime had been committed, and,
to keep her perpetually in mind of Dean's threat
against her life, the wretched woman had lived during
her concealment in a precisely similar apartment,
decorated and furnished in the same manner; so,
seeing that she had attached such importance to it,
the probability was that she had hidden the paper
t»3
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224 THE LADY FROM NOWHERE
within its precincts. But a strict examination of
floor, walls, carpet, hangings, and furniture proved
that the confession was not there. Gebb was dis-
gusted at this result and turned his attention to the
rest of the house.
In the few hours he had to himself he examined
nearly every room in the place, not forgetting the
sleeping apartments of Dean and Mrs. Grix, which
were situated in the back part of the house. He
made several discoveries of more or less importance,
but the object of his search he failed to find. Towards
five o'clock he gave up hunting for this needle in a
haystack — for the search was quite as difficult and
impossible — and repaired hot and dusty to Mrs. Grix.
From the old woman he obtained water to wash in,
and a brush for his clothes, and afterwards she
supplied him with a cold supper and beer. Just as
Gebb finished this, feeling very refreshed, he heard
the sound of voices, and stepped on to the terrace to
find that Ferris and Edith had arrived. They both
looked pale and nervous, and the grim way in
which the detective eyed them inspired neither with
confidence.
"We are here, you see," said Ferris, as Edith
seemed unwilling to speak, ''but neither Miss
Wedderbum nor myself can guess the reason of
your very peremptory telegram.'*
"I think you know the reason very well," said
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A SECRET HOARD 225
Gebb, grimly, " else you would not be here How-
ever, there is no need to talk secrets in the open, so
if you will come with me to the Yellow Boudoir,
we can speak more at our ease — ^and perhaps more
openly," finished the detective, with a dry cough.
Edith looked at her lover in a quick, terrified
manner, but judged it wiser to make no remark, and
the two meekly followed Gebb into the Yellow
RoonL Here they sat down side by side on the
primrose-hued couch, while Gebb, after glancing
outside to see that Mrs. Grix was not listening,
closed and locked the door. Then he drew a chair
in front of the couch, and surveyed the pair in no
very friendly manner.
"Well, Miss Wedderburn and Mr. Ferris," he said,
with much displeasure, ** it seems I have to find out
things for myself."
"What things?" asked Edith, flushing; for, not
knowing the extent of Gebb's knowledge, neither she
nor Ferris was prepared to speak freely.
"Things which you know. Miss Wedderburn, and
about which you could have informed me. If I had
known then what I know now," added Gebb, with
emphasis, " I might have had less trouble and more
result in this murder case."
" I don't understand you," faltered Ferris, doubtfully.
" You may understand me better when I tell you
that your father is in prison again."
Q
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226 THE LADY FROM NOWHERE
"My father? Dean?"
"Yes, Dean or Martin — ^whichever you like to call
him."
"Do you mean to say that Mad Martin, the
gardener, is really Mr. Dean ? " said Edith, making a
final attempt to baffle Grebb.
"Yes, Miss Wedderbum, I do ; and why should
you or Mr. Ferris there pretend ignorance of what
you know to be true? I recognized Dean myself
from a description given by Parge. No one can
mistake that mark between the eyes when he frowns
— ^which mark, I see, Mr. Ferris has at this moment
And to make sure that Martin is Dean, I have the
evidence of Mrs. Grix."
" Mrs. Grix I Has she told you "
" She has told me everything," interrupted Gebb ;
"and Dean tried to punish her for talking. Then he
ran away, and I chased him into Norminster, where
he now lies in gaol."
" But he is mad ! " said Ferris, eagerly.
*Who is mad ?" demanded Gebb, turning on him.
"Your father, or Martin the gardener?"
Ferris made a despairing gesture. " Since you
know so much," he said in low tones, •* I admit that
the two are one and the same. Martin is really my
father, Marmaduke Dean, who has been concealed
here ; but he is insane."
"He is nothing of the sort, Mr. Fcrria His
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A SECRET HOARD 227
insanity was feigned for the better baffling of the
police. Neither you nor Miss Wedderbum can
deceive me any longer. You have kept silence^ you
have told untruths, and altogether have given me
endless trouble, but now I must insist upon your
speaking out, both of you. This time I know so
much that you cannot deceive me ; and TU force you
to speak.''
* Suppose we refuse?** cried Edith, indignant at
this rough speech.
** If you do ril arrest you both as accessories after
the fact to the murder of Miss Gilmar. Ah, you look
afraid ! But I know — I know. Dean murdered that
woman, and you are both aware of it"
* My father is innocent ! " cried Arthur, with a groan.
^ If he is, what was he doing at Grangebury on the
evening of the murder ? Why did he stay in London
all night ? What was his return ticket to Norminster
doing in Miss Gilmar's room at Paradise Row? The
man is guilty, I tell you. Defend him if you can.
Tell the truth if you dare, and for once both of you
act honourably and straightforwardly."
The detective spoke with much vehemence, and
rising from his seat walked rapidly up and down the
room. Much as Edith resented his language, yet she
was conscious that in a great measure it was deserved.
For this reason she restrained her passion and spoke
frankly and to the purpose.
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228 THE LADY FROM NOWHERE
** Mr. Gebb/' she said, and the detective paused to
listen, ''I do not deny that much you say is true.
Neither myself nor Mr. Ferrb have spoken so openly
as we might have done. But you must not forget
that we had much that was dangerous to ourselves to
conceal. If we had told you about the necklace, you
might have suspected us of the crime, and it was
dread of such danger which kept us silent"
" I know that you are both innocent," said Gebb,
coldly. " But about Dean ? "
"We did not speak of Dean — of thy father — for
the same reason," struck in Arthur, earnestly. " He
was imprisoned for a crime which he did not commit,
and you would not have had me — his own son-
betray him."
** Perhaps not ; it is a hard thing to ask," responded
the detective. " But now that I know so much, per-
haps you will tell me more, and inform me how it
was that your father came here, and when it was
that you first recognized him."
" Certainly," replied Arthur, with a glance at Edith
for permission to speak. ** I heard almost immedi-
ately about my father's escape from prison, and,
knowing his hatred for Miss Gilmar, I came to
Kirkstone Hall, thinking he might go there to
revenge himself. However, although he had not
come. Miss Gilmar, with a guilty conscience, no
doubt, took fright, and went to hide herself in
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A SECRET HOARD 229
London. On my first visit I met Miss Wedderburn,
and afterwards I frequently came to see her. One
day while I was here, an old man arrived and asked
to see Miss Gilmar. I saw him, and so did Miss
Wedderbum ; and when he heard my name, and had
examined me carefully, he saluted me as his son.
At first I could scarcely believe that he was my father,
as I had not seen htm for close on twenty years, and
was too young to retain much recollection of him.
But he soon proved to me that he was Marmaduke
Dean, and told us how he had escaped.''
''Did he come to the Hall to kill Miss Gilmar?"
asked Gebb, anxiously.
**Nor'said Ferris, with emphasis. "That threat
was uttered only in his mad passion. All he wanted
from her was proof of his innocence."
"And I wrote to her about it," said Edith, taking
up the tale ; " but she was afraid of Mr. Dean, and
swore that he killed Mr. Kirkstone."
"Though I am certain," interposed Arthur, "that
she killed him herself, and accused my father because
she was jealous of his love for Laura."
"That may be," said Gebb, nodding ; " but proceed
with your story."
"Let me tell the rest," cried Miss Wedderbum.
" Mr. Dean was so broken down and ill with the life
he had led in prison, that I suggested he should stay
here and let me look after him. The police bad been
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230 THE LADY FROM NOWHERE
to the Hall, and not having found him there^ had left.
I did not think they would come again, so I believed
that Mr. Dean would be quite safe. So he stayed
for a day or so, until Mrs. Grix recognized him, but
I bribed her with money to silence. She suggested
that for safety Mr. Dean should pretend to be Martin
— a gardener not quite right in his head, who had
left the Hall after the tragedy. It was twenty years
since he had gone, and Mr. Dean was much altered
from his former self ; so in the end he adopted the
name of Martin, and pretended to be mad. So now
you know, Mr. Gebb, when you saw me first, the
reason why I was not afraid of his madness. You
thought it real ; I knew it to be feigned."
''Did every one round here think he was really
Martin come back ? "
"Yes. But he kept within the Hall grounds, and
saw few people. These left him alone because of his
madness. So there is the truth, Mr. Gebb.''
" Not all the truth," said Gebb, significantly. *• You
have not told me how he killed Miss Gilmar."
" He did not kill her ! " cried Ferris, furiously.
'• He did I " insisted Gebb. " He was in Grange-
bury on the twenty-fourth of July."
" Impossible 1 " said Edith, much alarmed. " I did
not know that But even if he was," she went on,
" it does not prove that he killed the woman."
" It's pretty good as circumstantial evidence^" said
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A SECRET HOARD 231
Gebb, coolly ; " but I have another and stronger proof.
Look here," and out of his pocket the detective took
a canvas bag, which, when opened, displayed bracelets
rings, and diamond stars.
** Miss Gilmar^s jewels 1 " cried Edith, recognizing
them at once.
"Yes," said Gebb, "Miss Gilmar's jewels, which I
found concealed in Dean's bedroom."
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CHAPTER XXIII
THE convict's defence
Shaking in the body and white in the facc^ Ferris
looked upon the jewellery, which seemed positive
evidence of his father's guilt, then flung himself back
on the couch with a groan, his hand over his ey^ to
shut out the terrible sight — for terrible it was to him,
the son of Marmaduke Dean. Edith also gazed fear-
fully upon the heap of gold and glittering stones, not
doubting the truth of Gebb's story.
" Yes ! " said the detective, raking the jewels to-
gether and replacing them in the bag. ''In looking
for Miss Gilmar's confession I found these in the room
of Dean. They were hidden on the top of a tall press
in a dark comer, and I felt, rather than saw them.
The case against your father is clear enough, Mr.
Ferris, although I was doubtful of it at first. Mrs.
Grix can prove that he spent the night of the twenty-
fourth of July away from the HalL The ticket I found
in Miss Gilmar's room shows that he must have been
there, since no one but he could have possessed, in
this especial instance, a ticket from Norminstcr to
93a
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THE CONVICTS DEFENCE 233
London. I'll have the evidence of the station-master
and the ticket-clerk to prove his purchase of it
shortly, and finally the possession of this jewellery
places the matter beyond all doubt/'
'' There must be some mistake/' said Edith, when
she found her tongue, ** for, although the evidence is
against Mr. Dean, I can't believe him guilty. He is
an old, broken-down man, timid and cowed. To plan
and carry out so ingenious and remorseless a crime
would need more spirit and determination than he is
possessed of. Besides," she added, very reasonably,
'' if, as we all think, Mr. Dean is guiltless of Kirk-
stone's death, why should he kill Miss Gilmar?"
''That is rather an argument against than in
favour of him," said Gebb, quietly. "If she con-
demned him unjustly, and bore false witness against
him, as I truly believe she did, that very fact would
make him all the more anxious to punish her for such
perjury. What do you think, Mr. Ferris ? "
"What can I think?" groaned the young man.
"The evidence seems to prove my father's guilt
Still, on the face of it, I agree with Miss Wedderburn ;
he cannot be guilty. Innocent men have been
hanged on evidence as conclusive ; yet afterwards
the truth has come to light A judge and jury found
him guilty of Kirkstone's murder, which we are now
certain he did not commit, so it is possible that,
despite the evidence to the contrary, he may be
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234 THE LADY FROM NOWHERE
innocent of this second crime. Mr. Gebb ! " added
Ferris, entreatingly, "you know the whole of this
matter, and are more experienced in such cases than
Miss Wedderburn and myself. Tell us truly — Do you
believe in my father's guilt?"
The detective hesitated, and, looking from one to
the other, rubbed his chin in a perplexed manner.
" I shall answer you honestly, Mr. Ferris," said he,
after a pause. " I am not certain of your father's
guilt I said that the possession of this jewellery
placed the matter beyond doubt ; but against that I
must place the fact — established by strong circum-
stantial evidence — ^that Miss Gilmar received her
assassin as a friend. She was afraid of Dean, and
even after the lapse of twenty years she must have
recognized him. In place of giving him wine and
cigarettes, her impulse would have been to cry out for
help. Moreover, without knowing all about her visitor
— presuming he was disguised — she would not have
let him into her house. On the whole I am doubtful.
The fact of the jewellery being found in his room
proves his guilt ; the fact that Miss Gilmar conversed
with him as a friend shows his innocence. Who can
decide the matter ? "
« I know ! " said Edith, suddenly— •' Mr. Dean him-
self You say that he is in Norminster gaol, Mn
Gebb. Well, that is only a mile from here, so let us
all three go there and question Mr. Dean. With
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THE CONVICTS DEFENCE 235
this evidence for and against him, he must either
declare his innocence or admit his guilt"
'^ It is the most straightforward course/' said Gebb,
with a nod. " What do you say, Mr. Ferris ? "
"I am content to abide by my father's word,"
replied Arthur, rising. ''Anjrthing is better than
this uncertainty. Let us go to Norminster gaoL"
" It's rather late," said Gebb, glancing at his watch.
^ However, I dare say we shall have no difficulty in
seeing the prisoner. Come along 1 "
In the then tumble-down, deserted condition of
Kirkstone Hall there was no vehicle obtainable, but
the evening was pleasant and Norminster no great
distance away, so the three walked briskly along the
road in the cool, grey twilight Conversing about
the case made the way seem short, and they soon
arrived in the little town and halted before the gates
of the gaol. A word from Gebb procured them
instant admittance, and they were shown into the
presence of the Governor, a retired major, with a bluff
manner and a twinkling eye, which was not unob-
servant of Edith's good looks.
"Well, sir," said Gebb, almost immediately, ''and
how is your prisoner ? "
"Clothed and in his right mindl" replied the
Governor. "He has given over his sulking and
feigned madness, and evidently seems resolved to
make the best of things. Indeed, I shouldn't be
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236 THE LADY FROM NOWHERE
surprised, Mr. Gebb, if he intended to make you his
father-confessor, for he has asked several times after
you."
" Good I " said Gebb, rubbing his hands. "This
looks like business ; he has thrown up the sponge.**
"Will you see him now?" asked the Governor,
with a side glance at Edith.
'' At once, if you please ; and I wish this lady and
gentleman to be admitted with me."
"Well, it is hardly regular to admit strangers at
this hour, Mr. Gebb," said the Major. " Still, as you
captured the man, and it is as well for you to hear
his confession, if he wishes to make it, I am content
to accede to your request. Have you any interest in
the matter ?" he asked, looking at Edith inquisitively.
"Yes, The man was hidden in my place under
the name of Martin," she replied with a blush, not
deeming it wise to further enlighten the Governor.
" Indeed. You are Miss Wedderbum, of the Hall ?
I thought so. Well, go along, all of you, but don't
remain more than half an hour with the prisoner.
I have to lock up for the night shortly ; and I may
be tempted to keep so fair a lady in my castle^ you
know."
Laughing at hb own mild joke, the Governor gave
his visitors over to the guidance of a warder; and
they were soon ushered into a cell, where they found
Dean sitting on his bed, chatting cheerfully with
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THE CONVICTS DEFENCE 237
the man who watched him. He sprang up to receive
them, and after the warder had exchanged a few words
with the watcher, they both withdrew, leaving the
lamp in the cell. Gebb was much gratified by this
mark of the Governor's trust, and spoke to Dean
with great complacency;
" I see you have come to your senses, Mr. Dean,"
he said civilly enough, but with point. Tt is about
time, I think/'
•* As you say, about time," replied Dean, who had
been greeting Edith and his son^ ** I have given
over fighting against the injustice of the world. I
was condemned, an innocent man, some twenty years
ago, and I escaped from my prison in the vain hope
of getting Ellen Gilmar to prove my innocence ; but
she is dead, and I am again in the hands of — I won't
say justice, but injustice."
" But why did you kill Miss Gilmar ? " asked Gebb ;
for Ferris and Edith sat by quietly, letting him con-
duct the conversation, as the most capable person.
" I did not kill Miss Gilmar," replied Dean, firmly
and sadly. ''God knows who sent that wicked
woman to her last account, but it was not I."
" Yet you uttered a threat against her."
**! did, in my first wrath at the injustice of my
sentence ; but nearly twenty years of imprisonment
removed revenge from my heart I came down to
Kirkstone Hall not to kill her, but to implore her to
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238 THE LADY FROM NOWHERE
tell the truth, and free me from undeserved shame.
But she had fled, thinking in her guilty mind that I
intended to harm her. I told Miss Wedderbum that
I did not, also Ar — I mean Mr. Ferris."
"You can call him Arthur," said Gebb, coolly. " I
know that he is your son."
^Is this so?" asked Dean, looking with some
surprise at Ferris.
" Yes, father. 1 told Mr. Gebb the truth, or, rather,
I admitted it, as he had already learned my relation*
ship to you from Prain. He knows everything, and
we have come to ask you to right yourself in his eyes
— to confess."
"Confess, Arthur! Do you believe that I killed
Kirkstone?"
"No," said Arthur, with conviction, " I do not**
"And you, Edith," said Dean, looking at the girl,
"is it your opinion that I am guilty of Miss Gilmar's
death?"
" No," replied Edith, in her turn. " Appearances
are against you, but I truly believe you to be guilt-
less."
"And so I am, for "
"Before you go on," interrupted Gebb, looking
up, " I think it will be best for you to approach this
matter with more particularity. Were you not at
Grangebury on the night of the twenty-fourth of
July?"
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THE CONVICrS DEFENCE 239
**Ycs,* admitted Dean, promptly, **1 was. I
went to see Mr. Basson, who had been my counsel."
"About what?"
" About the confession of Miss Gilmar."
" What I " cried Gcbb, in surprise. " You found it ? "
* I found it on the twentieth of July, concealed in
the Yellow Boudoir, where Ellen Gilmar had hidden
it I know now who killed Kirkstone."
**Miss Laura I " cried the detective, knowing Dean's
behef.
" No. Miss Gilmar herself was the murderess."
"" Well, I never I '' said Gebb ; and looked at Edith
and her lover, who were not much astonished. "And
where is the confession now ? "
"Mr. Alder has it," was the unexpected reply.
** Alder ! Why, he believes you to be guilty. He
said so several times."
"I asked him to," replied Dean, quickly; "Mr.
Alder has been a good friend to me all through."
" He has been a good friend to us all," said Edith,
touching Arthur's hand. "Does Mr. Alder know
who you are ? "
"Yes. He had been present at my trial, you
know, and, in spite of my altered appearance, he
recognized me on one of his visits to the HalL I
begged him to keep my secret, and he did. I asked
him to talk of me as guilty, so that I might be the
more effectually concealed."
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240 THE LADY FROM NOWHERE
"" I don't see how that would help you/' interrupted
Gebby sharply.
"Why not? If Alder had gone about insisting
that I was innocent, you might have suspected that
he had seen me lately ; while by stating what every-
body believed, no questions would be asked''
"True enough," said Gebb, his brow clearing.
"But I confess this disjointed information of yours
puzzles me not a little. Suppose you tell us the
whole story from the time you first masqueraded as
Mad Martin,"
" Certainly," assented Dean, readily. ** I intended
to do so, as I wish you to help me to establish my
innocence. Also, I owe it to my son and Miss
Wedderburn to relate things I formerly kept from
them."
"We are all attention," said Edith, and leaned
forward eagerly.
" When I was feigning madness at the Hall," said
Dean, glancing at his three auditors, "I was wonder-
ing all the time how I could prove my innocence of
Kirkstone's murder. One night, Mrs. Grix — who
had found out my true name — told me that Miss
Gilmar had written a confession of the crime ; and —
as she believed — ^had hidden it in the house. She
gathered this from some words let fall by Miss Gilmar.
Thenceforth it became the aim of my life to find
that confession ; but although I looked everywhere^ I
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THE CONVICTS DEFENCE 241
could not discover it Then Mn Alder came visiting
at the Hall, as you know, Edith, and he guessed who
I was. Feeling that I could not deceive him, I con-
fessed that I was really Marmaduke Dean, and con-
sulted him as to the possibility of proving my inno-
cence. Alder scoffed at the idea of a confession being
in existence, as he said if Miss Gilmar were guilty, she
would not put the fact down in black and white. He
advised me to consult Basson, who had been my
counsel, and to see if I could not be cleared ; but
this I was afraid to do, lest Basson should hand me
over to the police."
** Oh, he would never have done that," said Gebb,
remembering the personality of Basson, "he is good
nature itself."
-So Alder said," continued Dean. "Still I was
too afraid to venture, and remained in hiding at the
Hall, thankful that Alder kept my secret I must
say that in every way he acted like a true friend, for
he could easily have given warning about me to the
authorities."
-I wonder he did not do so for Miss Gilmar's
sake," said Gebb.
" Had he deemed me guilty he would have done
so," cried Dean, quickly ; " but I told him the whole
facts of the case, and declared that Laura, being
possessed of the knife, had killed her brother. Alder
in the end said he believed in my innocence, but he
R
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«42 THE LADY FROM NOWHERE
declined to look upon Laura as the assassin. He
fancied that Miss Gilmar had committed the crimen
and to shield herselfi and punish me for not being in
love with her, she accused me. Still, he declined to
believe that she had confessed her guilt in writing.
I wa3 certain, however, from what Mrs. Grix said,
that she had, and '*
" This is all very well," interrupted Gcbb, quickly,
''but it does not explain your visit to Grangebury/'
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CHAPTER XXIV
PROOF POSITIVE
Impatient of the intemiption, Dean looked at Gebb
in a quick, irritable way, like a man whose nerves are
not under control; but, in his own interests, he
answered quietly enough —
^ I am coming to the Grangebury visit shortly," he
said, ^* but it is necessary for me to explain what led
to it, so that you may not misunderstand my reason
for going there."
" I beg your pardon, Mr. Dean," replied the detec-
tive. " Pray go on."
** As I said before," continued the prisoner, ** I was
certain that Miss Gilmar had left a confession behind
her, and after months of search I found it"
''Where?" asked Edith, much interested
** In the Yellow Room. It was sewn into the hang-
ings, between the satin and the lining, and, but for
the particular minute search I made, would never
have been discovered. I dare say Ellen Gilmar hid
it thus safely so that she might not be accused of the
crime in her lifetime ; but no doubt when dying she
•43
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244 THE LADY FROM NOWHERE
intended to indicate its hiding-place, so that I might
be set free and my character cleared, after she was
safe from the punishment of man."
"As she is," observed Ferris, bitterly.
" Leave her to God," said Dean, slowly. *• As she
has sown, so shall she reap, and I wish her no worse
fate. Well," continued he, '* you will understand that
as soon as I discovered this proof of my innocence I
was bent upon clearing myself. But this was not so
easy to do. I had escaped from gaol, and were I
discovered would be at once taken back, when, as
I fancied, the confession might go astray or prove
useless. It was towards the end of July last that
I found it, and I consulted Mr. Alder, who came
down about the same time to visit Edith."
"Yes," said Edith, colouring. "He came to ask
me again to marry him."
"Alder advised me to place the confession in the
hands of Basson, and offered to take it up to him.
But at the moment I was unwilling to let this proof
of my innocence leave my hands, and I determined
to go up to London myself and see Basson. But,
thinking I might be discovered, I feared to do so — or
at all events to go to Basson's office. I wrote and
told Alder this, so he suggested that I should go to
Grangebury, where Mr. Basson was giving a lecture, on
the twenty-fourth of July, and he said I could come up
late and see Mr. Basson before the lecture, place the
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PROOF POSITIVE 245
confession in his hands with instructions what to do,
and then return by a late train to Norminster. Thus,
he said in his letter, I should be exposed to less risk
of discovery. The advice seemed good to me, and
I adopted it'*
"But where did you get the money to visit
London?" asked Edith. '^For I never gave you
any,"
" I borrowed it from Mrs. Grix, and told her I was
visiting a friend," explained Dean. "Also I asked
her to tell you that I had gone into Norminster, in
case you missed me."
" I didn't miss you at all, and there was no need
for Mrs. Grix to say anything," said Miss Wedder-
bum. "All the same," she added reproachfully,
"you might have trusted me."
" And me also," interposed Ferris. *' I should have
had the confession, not Basson."
**You are right," replied his father, with a sigh.
"I behaved foolishly, I admit; but I acted, as I
thought, for the best On the twenty-fourth of July,
by the five o'clock train, I went up to Grangebury."
"Did you know that Miss Gilmar was there?"
asked Gebb, with a glance at Edith.
" No, I did not," answered Dean. " Why do you
ask?"
" Because Miss Wedderburn knew of Miss Gilmar's
whereabouts."
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246 THE LADY FROM NOWHERE
"That is true enough,'' responded Edith, calmly ;
" but I did not think it necessaiy at the time to tell
Mr. Dean. No one but myself— and later on Arthur
— ^knew that Miss Gilmar was lodging in Paradise
Row. Continue, Mr. Dean 1 "
" I arrived late in Grangebury, about six o'clock,
and went to a public-house, where I had some tea,
and made myself as respectable as possible to go
to the lecture. I intended to see Mr. Basson before
it began, and then take the nine o'clock train to
Norminster."
"Had you a return ticket?" asked Gebb, re-
membering the one found in the Yellow Room.
**Yes; a third-class return. However, in the
public-house I fell asleep, being worn out with
trouble and fatigue. I did not waken until it was
nearly nine o'clock, and then went to the Town Hall.
Mr. Basson was already on the platform, so I could
not speak to him. Yet I was anxious to get back to
Norminster on that night, as I did not want Edith
to know I had been in London."
"But why?" said Edith. "You must have been
aware that you could trust me."
"I wished you to know nothing, my dear, until
Basson proved my innocence," replied Dean, sadly.
"But I should have trusted you. I see it now.
However, I did not go back that night, for I lost my
ticket."
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PROOF POSITIVE 2A7
"Where did you lose it?" asked Gebb, eagerly, for
this was a most important point.
Dean shook his head. " I can't say/' he replied.
" I saw Mr. Alder at the door of the Town Hall, and
told him that I was going back, but gave him the
confession, and asked him to show it to Basson. He
tried to get me to remain, but I was bent on return-
ing, and knew that the confession was safe in his
hands. I ran to the station, but there found I had
lost my ticket, where I know not I had no money
to buy another, so I went back to the Town Hall
and saw Mr. Alder again about half-past nine
o'clock. Then, to my surprise, I saw Edith enter
the HalL"
''I had just returned from getting the necklace
from Miss Gilmar," explained Edith. "I came up
to Grangebury after you did."
" I did not know you were out of Kirkstone Hall,"
said Dean. "Well, I did not trouble to wonder why
you were there ; but lest you should see me I kept
myself out of sight I then explained my position to
Mr. Alder. He gave me some money, and advised
me to stay all night at Grangebury. I was unwilling
to do so, but as the last train had left I was forced to
stay. I slept in the public-house where I had been
before, and left by the early train next morning."
"Did you hear of the murder before you left ? '
^ No, as I departed early. So you see, Mr. Gebb,
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248 THE LADY FROM NOWHERE
I can prove an alibi ; for at the time of the murder
— ten o'clock it was, the paper said — I was asleep in
the public-house. The keeper of it can prove that
I was."
"What is the name of the public-house? "
" The Golden Hind, near the railway station.**
Gebb noted this name in his pocket-book, and rose
to his feet " So this is all you have to tell me ? "
said he, briskly.
** All I — and enough, too. I don't know who killed
Ellen Gilmar. It was not I."
" If the hotel keeper can prove your alibi that will
be all right, Mr. Dean. But this confession; you
say Mr. Alder has it ? "
''Yes. But I asked him to make no use of i^*'
replied Dean, " for, as I was in Grangebury on the
very night — ^about the very hour — that Ellen was
murdered, I was afraid, if Alder acted on the con-
fession, I might be accused of the second crime.
Certainly I had a defence ; but the evidence was so
strong against me that I did not wish to risk
appearing."
"Do you know who killed Miss Gilmar?"
" No I " cried Dean, vehemently, " I do not."
" Then what about these ? " said Gebb, and suddenly
produced the jewels of Miss Gilmar. "These ornaments
belonged to the dead woman; they were taken off
her body by the wretch who killed her. I found
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PROOF POSITIVE 249
them hidden in your room at Kirkstone Hall; yet
you swear that you do not know the name of the
assassin. What am I to understand by this con-
tradiction ? "
'^It's a plot to ruin me/' said Dean, becoming
very pale. " I did not know that these jewels were
in my room. I never saw them before. Edith!
Arthur ! What do you know of this ? "
" We know nothing/' they 3aid simultaneously.
**Come, Mr. Dean/' said Gebb, imperiously,
''these ornaments would not have been hidden in
your room without your knowledge. If your alibi
is to be believed you are innocent, but on this
evidence you must know who is guilty."
Dean gave a long sigh, and lapsed into his old
sullen manner.
''I know nothing about them," he said in a
piteous tone ; " some one must have put them there.
I don't know who. I have told you the truth, but
even that will not help one, and I shall be con-
demned for the second time — an innocent man. Oh,
God is cruel — cruel 1 " and the tears ran down his
cheeks.
After that there was little more to be said. The
old man was ill and feeble. For the moment he
had braced himself to tell his story, and the hope of
being righted had given him unnatural strength;
but now that all was told, Nature claimed her own,
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250 THE LADY FROM NOWHERE
and Dean fell back on his bed thoroughly exhausted.
Ferris desired to stay beside his father, but when
the warder came back tiiey would not permit this,
and in the end the three left the prison* In the
street Gebb turned to speak a few words to Edith
before leaving for town, as he had decided to
da
*' What are your intentions ? ** he asked
''I shall stay here until to-morrow/' she replied.
** I am too exhausted to return to London to-night
But I must go up in the morning, as I promised to
see Mn Alder.**
^ Alder? " repeated Gebb, who had half forgotten
the man; "how is he?"
" Very ill— dying, they say ; and he sent for me
to see him. I could not go to-day, as I came here
with Arthur to see what had been done about his
father. Do you think he is innocent ? "
"Yes, I do,*' replied Gebb; "but I am puzzled
about the jewels. I cannot help thinking that
Dean knows something about them; but he won't
speak."
"He may to-morrow morning," said Ferris^
quickly. "I think he is too exhausted to-night to
remember much more. His memory has been
severely taxed to-day, you know. I shall speak to
him to-morrow, and whatever he tells me I shall
tell you, Mr. Gebb."
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PROOF POSITIVE 251
" Very well," replied Gebb, dubiously, and walked
briskly to the railway station^ as he was anxious
to reach London, to see Parge and tell him what
he had discovered.
Also, he desired the advice of Pai^e regarding
the jewels, for despite Arthur's promise, he did
not trust him altogether. The young man had
deceived him before, and should occasion arise
might do so again. So Gebb determined to act
independently of anything which might be said
by Dean in the morning. He was surrounded on
all sides by people who, with their own ends to £^n,
were more or less unscrupulous, so it behoved him
to be wary. Otherwise, he would never pluck out
the heart of this mystery.
On arriving in town Gebb went to his office, and
there found three letters for him. Two, from the
station-master and the ticket-clerk of Norminster
Station, were corroborative of Dean's visit to town
on the evening of the twenty-fourth of July ; for
both stated that Mad Martin, the gardener of Kirk-
stone Hall, had purchased a return ticket, and had
left for London by the five o'clock train. But know-
ing what he did, this evidence came too late to
enlighten Gebb in any degree^ so he tossed the
letters aside and opened the third one. It proved
to be from Parge, requesting him to call and see
him at once on important business concerning the
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252 THE LADY FROM NOWHERE
Grangebury murder case, these latter words being
underlined.
''He has found out something,*' thought Gebb.
*' I wonder what it is ? another mare's-nest, I expect.
However, we'll see. I'll call to-morrow."
At ten o'clock next morning he was in Pimlico,
and in the presence of Mr. Parge, who received him
with a look of subdued triumph.
** Well, Absalom," said he, " have you discovered
who killed Miss Gilmar ? "
" No, I haven't, Simon ; have you ? "
*' Yes. I found out the truth from — ^who do you
think?"
"I don't know," said Gebb, impatiently. •'Mrs.
Presk, perhaps."
" No, not from the mistress, but from the maid —
Matilda Crane."
Gebb looked at the ex-detective in amazement
• Why, what did she know about it ? "
" She knew who visited Miss Gilmar on the night
of the murder. I said you had not examined that
girl properly, Absalom, so I sent for her to put
a few questions myself Then I discovered that
she had found, cast into the grate among other
papers, a letter written by the assassin to Miss
Gilmar. Here it is."
Gebb took the bit of paper handed to him, and
read as follows : —
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PROOF POSITIVE 253
**Dear Miss Gilmar»
" I wish to see you on the evening of the
24th July, between nine and ten o'clock, about
some information touching Dean. Get rid of every
one in the house at that time, and expect me for
certain. It will be better for us to be alone. Bum
this.
*• Yours truly,
•* John Alder."
" Alder V* repeated Gebb, in amazement ; " Alder 1 "
* Yes 1 it was Alder who murdered that wretched
woman.'*
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CHAPTER XXV
HOW THE DBED WAS DONE
GSBB quite agreed witii Parge, r^arding the guilt
of Alder; and on looking back over the collective
evidence, he wondered that he had not suspected
him before. No wonder he had come forward to
defend Ferris: for bad as he was, the man had
some conscience^ and did not wish to see a guiltless
person hanged for his crime, even though that
person was iiis rival in love. What Gebb could not
understand was, why Alder had been so kind to
Dean ; and it was to ascertain this, amongst other
things, that he left Parge as soon as he was able,
and went off to Alder's rooms. The man was dying;
and for the clearance of all persons concerned in
the matter, it was absolutely necessary that he should
make a confession of his guilt, even at the eleventh
hour.
'' I could tell you much that I have discovered,"
said Gebb, slipping the incriminating letter into his
pocket, "but as Alder is dying there is no time to
be lost in getting him to confess."
«54
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HOW THE DEED WAS DONE 255
**! agree with you," replied Parge, promptly.
^ I knew that he was dyings as I saw an account
of his accident in the papers. Get him to confess,
and for that purpose take Mr. Basson with you as
a witness; then come back to me, and tell me
everything. I wish to write out all details concern-
ing this very extraordinary case, and put the report
in my collection."
''It certainly merits it," replied Gebb, putting
on his hat, "and I dare say this confession will be
the most wonderful of all. By the way, why did
not the servant give up this letter before ? "
''Because she is a cunning, artful little minx!"
burst out Parge, in great wrath, "and wished to
make money over it. She found it, as I told you,
while cleaning out the grate, when the room was
stripped by Alder. The letter was torn across, as
Miss Gilmar evidently did not think it worth while
to adopt Alder's advice and bum it It was lucky
she did not, or her death would have gone unavenged ;
as it is "
"As it is, the man will escape the law," inter-
rupted Gebb, "but I dare say hell be punished
somehow. I'm sure he deserves to be. Did Mrs.
Presk know of Tilda's discovery ? "
"No! Tilda kept the discovery to herself, and
intended to sell her information to the highest
bidder. It took me two hours to wring the truth
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256 THE LADY FROM NOWHERE
and the letter out of her; but I did in the end,
and for the evidence I paid her five pounds."
•Tve no doubt Miss Wedderburn will pay you
when she comes into the estate."
*' What, the five pounds ! " exclaimed Parge, wrath-
fuUy. " Why, I expect the reward."
" But the reward was to be paid by Alder himself,"
argued Gebb ; ** and although it was a blind, you
can hardly expect the man to pay for his own
detection."
'^His next heir must pay itl" said the ex*
detective, doggedly.
" Miss Wedderburn is the next heir."
"Then I'll apply to her," cried Parge, "Fm
going to be paid for my trouble."
''Seems to me, Simon, IVe had all the trouble,'*
said Gebb, dryly. "You've sat in your armchair
and done nothing."
* I've found out the truth, if you call that nothing ! *•
retorted Parge, growing red. " I've used my brains,
which is more than you have done. There is life
in the old dog yet, Absalom I "
*• And temper also," rejoined Gebb, who was
rather sore about the reward " Eh, Simon ? Well !
well! We'll argue the matter hereafter. I must
go to Alder."
" Don't forget to take Basson ! "
"No, I won't But if you are right about Alder^
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HOW THE DEED WAS DONE 257
you are wrong about Dean ; he did not kill Kirk-
stone"
" Then who did ? " grunted Parge, rather displeased.
**Miss Gilmar herself!" retorted Gebb, and de-
parted swiftly, leaving to his friend this — to him —
indigestible morsel.
Parge raged a trifle after Gebb had gone, as he
did not like to be put in the wrong ; but when he
recollected his triumph in the new murder case,
he was quite content to set it against his failure
in the old one. So he sat placidly in his armchair,
and enjoyed his success, and the prospect of
getting two hundred pounds with so little trouble.
All of which was satisfactory to his wife also; as
it kept Parge in a good temper for one entire day,
a state of things which was little less than miraculous
in that frequently disturbed household.
In the mean time Gebb, with a desperate fear in
his heart that he might be too late, went as quick
as a hansom could travel to Basson's rooms. Keep-
ing the cab at the door, he ran up the long staircase
so quickly that he arrived at the top with failing
breath and beating heart The perennial legend,
" Back in five minutes," was still on the barrister's
door, and Gebb on knocking was again greeted by
the boy in the small suit. This latter admitted
that his master was at home, but stated that he
could not be seen.
S
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2S8 THE LADY FROM NOWHERE
" 'Cos he ain't well," explained Cerberus ; *• he's
had a shock I "
"What kind of a shock? An accident?" asked
Gebb.
"No/* replied the boy, after some consideration,
" not that sort of shock. Quite another kind"
"Well, I'm sorry to disturb Mr. Basson," said
Gebb, " but you must take him my card and tell him
that I must see him. It's a matter of life and death.''
The boy still seemed unwilling, but Gebb thrust
the card into his hand, and insisted ; so in the end
it was taken to Basson. In less than a minute
Cerberus returned with the information that his
master would see Mr. Gebb at once. With a nod
the detective stepped into the dingy inner office,
and found Mr. Basson with his arms on the mantel-
piece, and his head bent down on them in an
attitude of dejection. When he heard the footstep
of his visitor — and firm, quick, business-like footsteps
they were — ^he turned slowly, and displayed a very
pale face and eyes so red that they looked as
though he had been crying.
" What is the matter ? " asked Gebb, rather taken
aback by this evidence of grief.
"I've had a shock," replied Basson, using the
very same words as his small clerk had done.
" Nothing serious, I hope? "
"Serious in one way, not in another. Still, I
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HOW THE DEED WAS DONE 259
am glad to see you. If you had not come to me
I should have paid you a visit in the course of
the day. You'have a right to know."
"Know what?" demanded Gebb, beginning to
feel uncomfortable ; he knew not why.
** That Alder is dead."
" Dead ! " Gebb, with a burst of anger unusual in
one of his self*control, dashed his hat on the floor.
" By ! " he used a strong word, ** so he has escaped
me after all I "
" What I " cried Basson, leaning forward in the chair
he had flung himself into. " You know ? "
*'l know that Alder killed Miss Gilmar; I heard
it this morning. I have the evidence of his own
handwriting to prove his guilt. When did you hear
of it ? How did you hear of it ? "
** I heard all about it at eight o'clock this morning,
shortly before Alder died."
** Then he confessed his crime ? "
" He did. I was sent for at seven o'clock at his
particular request, and he told me the whole story.
In order to clear any innocent person who might be
suspected, I wrote down what he said, and got him to
sign it The doctor and myself were the witnesses,
and the confession is locked in my desk yonder. I
was coming round to your office later on in order to
place it in your hands. How did you find out the
truth?"
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260 THE LADY FROM NOWHERE
** It's a long story, Mr. Basson. I'll tell it to you
some other time. But I learned that he killed his
cousin, and I came here to get you to go with me»
and force him to confess."
^ He did so voluntarily," said Basson, sadly, " and
made what reparation he could for his wickedness.
Do you wonder that I received a shock, Mr, Gebb ?
It was terrible to hear a man I had known so
long, whom I had liked so much, confess himself a
murderer."
" It is terrible, I grant you," replied Gebb, some-
what moved by the grief .of the old Bohemiaa ^ I
should never have thought it of him myself, as is
proved by the fact that I never suspected him. He
seemed a kindly, honest, pleasant gentleman. Per-
haps, however, there is the excuse that he did the
deed in a fit of rage. From what I have heard of
Miss Gilmar she was a woman to irritate an arch-
angel."
Basson shook his head. " There is not even that
excuse," he said. ** The crime was committed in cold
blood. He planned and carried it out in the most
ruthless manner."
" But why in Heaven's name did he desire the death
of his wretched cousin ? "
"Money, Mr. Gebb— money. Alder was des-
perately hard up— on the verge of bankruptcy ; and
as his cousin refused to help him, he killed her. To
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HOW THE DEED WAS DONE 261
gain her wealth was the motive of the act Well/'
added Basson, with a sigh, ** he did not enjoy his ill*
gotten gains long, for in the midst of his prosperity
the hand of God struck him down/*
** You have the confession, you say ? "
** Here it is ! " Basson unlocked the drawer
of his desk, and took out a sheet, or, to be precise,
several sheets of paper, and handed them to
Gebb. The detective turned to the end, saw the
three signatures, then slipped the papers into his
pocket
''It will take too long reading this just now,"
he said apologetically, "and I have much to do.
Will you be so kind, Mr. Basson, as to tell me the
facts in your own way ? I am curious to know how
so many people concerned in the case came to
be collected in Grangebury on the night of the
murder."
"Alder collected them," said Basson, nodding;
''he planned the whole affair in a most wonderful
manner, so as to throw suspicion of the crime on
every one but himself. Had he lived he would have
escaped all suspicion."
••I think not," replied Gebb, feeling for the
letter he had received from Parge ; ** his own hand*
writing would have committed him. This is one
of those little accidents which mar the plans of
the most accomplished criminals. However, that
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262 THE LADY FROM NOWHERE
is neither here nor there. Let me hear the con-
fession."
Basson thought for a moment, then begaa ^It
seems that Miss Wedderburn was not the only
person Miss Gilmar wrote to ; she corresponded also
with Alder about business matters, for, as she had
left her property to him by will, she did not think
that he would betray her to Dean. As a matter of
fact, she was simply putting temptation in the man's
way, for Alder was desperately hard up, and was
looking forward to the time when he would come
into possession of Miss Gilmar's money. However,
she did not know that, and kept him advised of her
changes of address."
^ Did he know that she was in Grangebury ? "
"Oh yes; but he dW not visit her there, for
already he was thinking of getting rid of her by
violent means. The difficulty was how to do it
without incriminating himself. Then two accidents
helped him. The first was that while on a visit to
Kirkstone, Edith told him that she was bent on
getting the necklace for Arthur Ferris, and was
going up to Grangebury on the evening of the
twenty-fourth of July to get it Ferris, she said,
was to escort her. Later on, while Alder was still
in the hall, Dean told how he had discovered Miss
Gilmar's confession, and wished to give it to me.
He was afraid, however, to come to my office lest
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HOW THE DEED WAS DONE 263
he should be recognized. Afterwards Alder induced
me to lecture at Grangebury, and wrote to Dean
telling him to come up and see me there. Then
he gave Ferris tickets for my lecture, and told
him he could wait for Miss Wedderburn in the
Town Hall, while she went to see Miss Gilmar. So
now you see, Mr. Gebb, that on the twenty-fourth
of July Alder had these three people likely to be
suspected on the spot"
"Avery ingenious idea,** said Gebb. "I suppose
he didn't care on whom suspicion fell ?"
** I don't think he did," admitted Basson, candidly ;
*' but he preferred to be guided by circumstances, and
he really wanted the suspicion to fall upon Dean, as
he had threatened to kill Miss Gilmar. Well, you
know about Arthur and Editlu"
''Yes, I know that he waited in the Town Hall,
and that she got the necklace and joined him later,
and that they both returned to London. Also, I
know that Dean came up, and as he was too late to
see you, gave the confession to Alder. But I don't
know how Alder managed to get away from the hall
without suspicion."
"Oh, that was easy," replied Basson. "He was
busy seeing after the tickets on my behalf, and look-
ing at the house ; so none of the attendants knew
where he was at the moment, but believed him to
be in another part of the Town Hall. When Edith
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i64 The ladv from nowher£
came back with the necklace he sent her into the
hall, and got rid of Dean, who had missed his train,
by giving him money and telling him to stay all night
in Grangebury — a fact which favoured his plans ; then
the coast being clear, he went alone to Paradise Row
shortly before ten o'clock, and saw Miss Gilmar. In
accordance with his instructions she was alone in the
house, as she had sent Mrs. Presk and Tilda to my
lecture."
••She admitted him?"
^Yes, and locked the door after he was inside;
but he did not see where she hid the key. He
then told her that Dean had found the confession,
and Miss Gilmar, as you may guess, was in a
great state. She immediately, with her usual super-
stition, got out the cards, to see what would
happen."
*• And she turned up the death-card ? '*
•* Yes. How do you know ? "
•' Because I found it in her lap."
"Yes," said Basson again, "she picked up the
death^card, and while gazing at it in horror Alder,
who was striding about the room smoking, slipped
behind her, and with a cord torn from the nearest
curtain, strangled her. He then robbed her of all
her jcweb and slipped them into his pocket Then
he tried to get out, but found the doors locked, and
did not know where the keys were."
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HOW THE DEED WAS DONE 265
''Mrs. Fresk had the key of the back door, and
Miss Gilmar that of the front,** said Gebb.
''Quite so; but Alder did not know that. He
did not dare to get out by the window, lest he
should be taken for a burglar, and arrested ; so he
stepped down to the kitchen and waited till Mrs.
Presk came home. He heard her go upstairs and
then call Tilda, so that he knew the crime had
been discovered. When the servant went up to the
Yellow Boudoir, Alder ran out of the back door,
and returned to the Town HalL The people in
charge of the money and tickets thought tliat he
had been with me, I fancied he had been with them,
and as no inquiries were made, you see nobody could
guess that he had been away and had committed a
crime."
"And why did he leave the jewels in Dean's room
atKirkstoneHall?"
"Ah, you know that?" said Basson, much sur-
prbed. "Why, he hid them so as to throw the
blame on Dean. Everything was suspicious against
the man. He was presumably guilty of the first
crime, he had threatened to kill Miss Gilmar, he was
in Grangebury on the night of the murder, and the
jewels — as Alder arranged — were to be found in his
room."
" They were found," ' said Gebb. " I found
them, and for the moment believed Dean guilty.
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266 THE LADY FROM NOWHERE
But about that ticket found in the Yellow
Boudoir?"
" That was purposely dropped there by Alder to
further incriminate Dean."
*' How did he get the ticket ? •*
''In giving the confession it fell out of Dean's
pocket, and Alder picked it up. So you see, Mr.
Gebb, that in every way chance played into Alder's
hands."
"•The wicked flourish like a green bay tree' ; but
not for long," said Gebb, grimly. "But tell me.
Why was Alder so kind to Ferris? "
"Oh, that was his deceit," said Basson, with a sigh.
"He fancied that when Dean was accused of this
second murder Edith would never marry Ferris, as
being the son of such a man. He was kind to him
because he wanted to ingratiate himself with Edith :
so that she might marry him after parting, as he
thought she would, with Ferris."
"Infernal scampi" cried Gebb, swearing, "when he
knew that the poor devil was innocent. Have you
Miss Gilmar's confession ? "
" Here it is ; Alder gave it to me. It clears
Dean entirely, so I suppose he'll receive a free
pardon."
* I suppose so," said Gebb, putting the confession
of Miss Gilmar into his pocket along with that of
Alder. "But his life is ruined. I'm only sorry
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HOW THE DEED WAS DONE 267
for one thing: that Alder did not h've to be
hanged."
** Well, I cannot agree with you ; after all, he was
my friend/' said Basson, sadly.
* He was a blackguard,'' retorted Gebb, and took
his departure.
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CHAPTER XXVI
TUB END OF IT ALL
One month after the death of John Alder, the two
detectives, Parge aod Gebb, sat in the room of the
former, discussing the now solved mystery of the
Grangebury Murder Case. On the table there lay a
cheque for two hundred pounds made payable to
Absalom Gebb, and signed by Edith Wedderbum.
The conversation was mostly about this cheque and
how it should be divided between them so as to com*
pensate each with due fairness. The matter was a
delicate one, and could not be settled without some
sharp words on either side.
** After all, Simon," remonstrated Gebb, in vexed
tones, " I did most of the work and deserve the reward
for my pains."
"You don't deserve all of it," retorted Parge,
captiously.
'< I don't claim all of it I say divide it into two
parts of one hundred pounds each. That will pay
me, and much more than compensate you."
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THE END OF IT ALL 269
* I don't know so much about that," grunted the
fat man. **I've done a deal of thinking over the
case, I can tell you« And it was me who found out
the murderer. So in justice I ought to have the
whole two hundred pounds."
Gebb snatched up the cheque, and slipped it into
his pocket ** If you talk like that you won't have a
single penny I " he cried wrathfully, for he was dis*
gusted with the avarice of his coadjutor. " In the
goodness of her heart Miss Wedderbum considered
that she should pay the reward out of the estate, and
did so— to me ; there was no word of you, Mr. Parge,
when she signed this cheque."
** I dare say not," growled Simon, savagely, ** that's
gratitude, that is ; yet if it hadn't been for me her
father-in-law to be would have swung for a murder
as he didn't commit"
''Don't you make any mistake about that,
Simon," replied Gebb, dryly, " Mr. Dean could have
proved his innocence without you in both cases.
The confession of Miss Gilmar shows that she killed
Kirkstone, and the evidence of the hotel-keeper of
the Golden Hind proves that Dean slept there at
the very hour of the murder. He would have been
declared innocent even if you hadn't discovered the
truth."
*• Well, I did, anyhow,*' declared the other, sulkily.
" So did Mr. Basson, if you come to that"
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270 THE LADY FROM NOWHERE
"Rubbish!" cried Parge. "He only heard the
confession of Alder.**
''Well, and didn't that reveal the truth? As a
matter of fact, in the face of that confession, Miss
Wedderbum need not have paid the reward to any
one. However, she thought that I deserved payment
for all my work, so she gave me this money. It is
only because you are a pal, and because I know
you've helped in the matter, that I give you fifty
pounds for yourselfc"
"Fifty pounds I" roared the fat man, growing
purple with rage. ''You said one hundred just
now/'
" So I did ; but I've taken oflf fifty for your greedi-
ness, Simon. I don't need to give you a single stiver
if it comes to that"
" ni never help you again I **
" Much I care I " retorted Gebb. • I can get on
without you. And I can't say as I care to work
with a man as doesn't ,know when his friend is
doing him a good turn. You say another word,
Simon Parge, and I'll reduce your reward to twenty-
five pounds."
If Parge had been able to move he would no
doubt have fallen on Gebb ; but chained as he was
to his chair, he could do nothing but glare at his
junior with a fierce eye and a very red face. He
knew very well that Gebb was acting in the most
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THE END OF IT ALL 271
generous manner in offering to share the reward,
so, fearful of losing all by opening his mouth too
wide, he sulkily signified that half a loaf was better
than none.
** I dare say it is," said Gebb, tartly ; *' but you only
get a quarter of a loaf. I brought two fifty-pound
notes with me, but as you have been so avaricious,
)rou shall only have one. There it is ; " and Gebb
clapped a Bank of England note into the hand of
Parge, which closed on it readily enough.
** And you keep one hundred and fifty," he said,
with a frown.
^ I do ; and I've earned it, Simon, by the sweat
of my brow. But now that I've behaved towards
you a deal better than you deserve, I'll go and
bank my money. You'll not see me here again in a
hurry."
" No, no I " cried Parge, seeing that his greed had
carried him too far, and softened by the money,
which, after all, had been earned very easily. " Don't
go, Absalom. I can't do without you."
*• Haven't I been generous, Simon ? "
" Yes, you have. Don't take a man up so short
Sit down and have a pipe and a glass of grog, and a
talk over the case."
With some dignity Gebb accepted the olive branch
thus held out, and resumed his seat Afterward Parge
seemed so repentant of his late behaviour that the
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272 THE LADY FROM NOWHERE
dignity of Absalom disappeared altogether; and,
moreover, the whisky and tobacco proved strong aids
to patching up the quarrel In ten minutes the pair
were chatting together in the most amicable fashion.
"Well, Absalom," said Parge, with a plethoric
grunt, "and how does the matter of that Grangebury
case stand now? You know I'm shut up here, and
never hear a word of what's going on. Tell me the
latest news."
«Miss Wedderbum has inherited the Kirkstone
property."
" She owns the Hall, then ? "
''Yes, she inherits the Hall, and also Miss Gilmar's
personal property. It was left to Alder first, and
failing him to Miss Wedderbum, so she is now a rich
woman, and I dare say will make a better use of her
money than the old skinflint who left it to her."
"She'll buy a husband with it, I suppose" said
Parge, ill-naturedly.
" Don't you make any mistake," contradicted Gebb,
friendly to both Edith and Arthur. "She was
engaged to Ferris in the days of her poverty, and
she'll not throw him over now that she is rich ; but
there is no purchase about the matter. I dare say
Ferris will yet succeed with his pictures. In the
mean time, he is to marry Miss Wedderbum, and
good luck to both of them, say I. They are as
decent a young couple as I know.'
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THE END OF IT ALL 273
" When docs the marriage take place ? "
" Next month. Old Dean can't live long, and he
wants to see the pair man and wife before he leaves
this very unjust world."
"Unjust world!" echoed Simon, incredulously.
''Dean has been pardoned, has he not, Absalom ? "
"Of course ; pardoned by the State for a crime he
never committed, after passing nearly twenty years
in gaol for Miss Gilmar's sake. I don't wonder the
old fellow is dying. He is worn out with trouble
and a sense of harsh injustice. He has one foot in
the grave now, and I expect he'll drop into it as soon
as his son marries Edith Wedderburn."
"And he didn't kill Kirkstone after all ? "
" No,** replied Gebb, with something of a dismal
air. "It appears from the confession left by Miss
Gilmar that she struck the blow. Do you remember
the bowie-knife mentioned in the evidence as belong-
ing to Dean ? "
"Yes, the knife with which the man was killed,"
said Parge. "The sister borrowed it from Dean,
didn't she ? "
"Yes ; and it appears that in her rage against Ellen
Gilmar for presuming to love Dean, she threatened
her upstairs with the knife, while Kirkstone and
Dean were quarrelling in the smoking-room. Ellen
wrenched the knife away, and said she would take it
at once to Dean in the Yellow Room. She went down
T
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274 THE LADY FROM NOWHERE
with it, and found that having quarrelled, Dean and
Kirkstone had parted, the former having gone up to
bed Ellen entered with the knife in her hand, and laid
it on the table. Then Kirkstone, who was in a bad
temper, began to insult her. She retorted, and in a
short space of time they were at it hard/ Then when
Miss Gilmar said something unusually cutting to
Kirkstone, he rushed at her to strike her. She
snatched up the knife to defend herself, and held it
point out In his blind rage he dashed against it,
and the point pierced his heart He fell dead on the
spot'*
**Oh," said Parge, reflectively, "then it was really
an accident I "
'' Yes ; but Miss Gilmar was so terrified that she
hardly knew what to do. Then, remembering that
the knife belonged to Dean, and that he had been
fighting with Kirkstone, also that he despised her love,
she determined to inculpate him, so as to avenge her-
self and save her own life. She ran upstairs and told
him that Kirkstone wished to see him again in the
Yellow Room. Dean fell into the snare, and came
down only to find Kirkstone dead with the knife in
his heart Then he was seized with a panic, and fled
back to his room, whence he was dragged when that
wicked old woman accused him of the murder ! "
* Didn't Dean suspect her ? " >
*• No ; he fancied that Laura, to whom he had lent
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THE END OF IT ALL 275
his knife, had struck the blow ; but afterwards, when
reviewing the circumstances in prison, it occurred to
him that Miss Gilmar might be guilty/'
** But how did Miss Gilmar quieten Laura ? "
'' Easily enough I She told her that Dean had
taken the knife and had killed Kirkstone. But it
seems to me," said Gebb, meditatively, " that if Laura
had only given her evidence clearly, the truth about
the knife would have been found out"
** I dare say 1 " rejoined Parge, tartly. ** But if you
had been in charge of the case, as I was, you would
have found out when too late that Laura, being weak-
witted and under the thumb of Ellen Gilmar, was
afraid to tell the absolute truth,"
"Nevertheless, the case was muddled," insisted
Gebb.
" Absalom ! " cried Parge, fiercely. ** You can take
the best part of the reward if you choose, but you
shan't throw discredit on my past work. I con-
ducted the Kirkstone murder case to the best of my
ability."
"And punished the wrong man."
" That was the force of circumstances."
" It was the want of getting the necessary evidence,"
retorted Gebb, with some heat. " However, we have
improved since then in detective matters, as in
others."
"Oh, have you?" growled Parge. "Then why
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2/6 THE LADY FROM NOWHERE
did you arrest the wrong man in the person of
Ferris?"
" You have me there, Simon, you have me there,"
laughed Gebb; which admission put Parge into
great good-humour.
"And criminals nowadays are just as stupid as
they were in my youth," he said, waving his pipe.
" For instance, why did Alder kill Miss Gilmar ? "
"Because he wanted her money."
"Well, by threatening her with Dean he could
have got her to allow him a good income. There
was no need for him to strangle her."
" Perhaps not ; and especially in poor Mrs. Presk's
front parlour. She hasn't been able to let it since.
And, to make matters worse, Matilda Crane has gone
away with the five pounds you gave her."
" Mrs. Presk had better give up the house at once "
said Parge, nodding. " No one will occupy a room
in which a murder has taken place. 'Taint nat'ral to
live with ghosts. What about that Yellow Boudoir
atKirkstoneHall?"
**0h! Mr. and Mrs. Ferris are going to pull it
down when they come back from their honeymoon,
I expect they will build another wing."
"By the way, is Ferris going to stick to that
name ? "
" Well, no ; but all the same he isn't going to call
himself Dean."
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THE END OF IT ALL 277
"Then he is going to take his wife's name, I
suppose ? " suggested Parge.
Gebb shook his head "By the will of that
ancestor who left the Hall to his descendants, all
who live in it not being Kirkstones have to take that
name. If Alder had lived he would have called
himself John Kirkstone,"
" Like the one that was murdered. A bad omen 1 "
"Well, he never had a chance of changing his
name. But I expect Ferris and Miss Wedderbum
will call themselves Mr. and Mrs. Arthur Kirkstone."
" Well," said Parge, raising his glass, " I hope they
will be lucky."
" So do I," responded Gebb, " if only because they
paid this two hundred pounds."
" Of which I got only fifty," grumbled Parge, and
so got the last word after all.
THB END
PSINTBD BY WILLIAM CLOWES AND SONS, LIMITBD, LONDON AMD BBCCLBS.
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